Those fighting to save Louisiana’s coast are applauding the commitment made by the Trump administration to speed up the permitting process of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diverson project. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says the 1.3 billion dollar project will rebuild the wetlands by returning sediment, fresh water, and nutrients from the Mississippi River to build and maintain land in Louisiana’s Barataria Basin…
Cut 13 (09) “sea level-rise”

Three hunters…two adults and a child…from West Feliciana Parish are dead after the pontoon boat they were on capsized near the Buffalo River area in Wilkinson County. The pontoon boat was being utilized as a duck blind. One of the deceased has been identified, Madaline Hemba, who worked for the city of Zachary.

UL-Lafayette has been named as a top 25 college in the nation where students are eager to attend. Michelle Southern reports…:
voicer 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Recently, retail giant Walmart raised its lowest hourly rate from 9 to 11 dollars and authorized bonuses of up to one-thousand dollars. Zachary Walmart Manager Cornelius Lombard says employees at his store are appreciative…
cut 5 (11) “…continued success”

We are a waiting on a decision from the jury who heard the Ronald Gasser trial. Gasser fatally shot former NFL player Joe McKnight in a road rage incident in Jefferson Parish and faces a second-degree murder charge, which carries a life sentence. Gasser did not take the stand during the six days of testimony. But Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the jury still heard from Gasser on what happened as there were seven hours of taped interviews that were played during the trial….
cut 13 (08) “…video”
Gasser claims he shot McKnight in self defense.

We are seeing scattered showers across south Louisiana and more rain is coming. National Weather Service Lake Charles meterologist Jared Rackley says south Louisiana could see several inches of rain….
cut 10 (06) “….day tomorrow”
Rackley expects the rain will end Sunday morning.

Clear and healthy drinking water is coming soon to the residents of St. Joseph in Tensas Parish. Millions of dollars in repairs are complete and now the state health department is finishing its testing. State health officer, Doctor Jimmy Guidry, says there are several aging water systems needing repair, but the state can’t afford to bail every small town out…
Cut 8 (07) “St. Joes.”
St. Joe’s rehabilitated water system is expected to be in full operation next month.

About 10-thousand pro-life supporters are expected to march tomorrow from the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City to Festival Plaza in Shreveport. Organizer of the Louisiana Life March North, Louis Avallone, says it’s their goal to reduce the number of abortions…
cut 4 (04) “…do that”
The march begins at 10 AM.

A jury is deliberating the fate of Ronald Gasser, who is charged with second-degree murder of former NFL player Joe McKnight. Prosecutors argue Gasser should serve a life sentence for shooting McKnight during a road rage incident in Jefferson Parish. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the evidence shows McKnight tried to enter Gasser’s car and he feels Louisiana’s Castle Doctrine will favor Gasser…
Cut 12 (09) “the car.”

A federal judge in Shreveport ruled against the United Daughters of the Confederacy today. They are trying to stop the removal of a Confederate monument that’s been standing since 1906. The Caddo Parish Commission voted to have the monument removed. The U-D-C claims they own the land where the statue stands, but the judge says the group did not prove that it does.

Pro-life advocates will march in Shreveport-Bossier City tomorrow as it is the annual Louisiana Life March North. Organizer Louis Avallone says they will start from the Louisiana Boardwalk, cross the Texas Street Bridge and finish at Festival Plaza in Shreveport….
cut 5 (11) “….of life”
The event is sponsored by the Lousiaina Right to Life, who will host another march next week in Alexandria-Pineville.

Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow, especialy in south Louisiana where some areas could see three inches. Jared Rackley, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says if you have outdoor plans tomorrow, it might be a good idea to reschedule them for Sunday….
cut 11 (08) “…nice out”
High temperatures will be in the 60s for the weekend.

Clear and healthy drinking water is coming soon to the residents of St. Joseph in Tensas Parish. Millions of dollars in repairs are complete and now the state health department is finishing its testing. State health officer, Doctor Jimmy Guidry, says there are several aging water systems needing repair, but the state can’t afford to bail every small town out…
Cut 8 (07) “St. Joes.”
St. Joe’s rehabilitated water system is expected to be in full operation next month.

About 10-thousand pro-life supporters are expected to march tomorrow from the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City to Festival Plaza in Shreveport. Organizer of the Louisiana Life March North, Louis Avallone, says it’s their goal to reduce the number of abortions…
cut 4 (04) “…do that”
The march begins at 10 AM.

We are seeing scattered showers across south Louisiana this afternoon and more rain is coming. National Weather Service Lake Charles meterologist Jared Rackley says south Louisiana could see several inches of rain….
cut 10 (06) “….day tomorrow”
The rain will move out of the state on Sunday.

The Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans is offering a unique twist on king cakes. Matt Doyle has the scoop…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Between five and ten-thousand pro-life supporters are expected to march in Saturday’s Louisiana Life March North in Bossier-Shreveport. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The FBI is investigating the what happened before Juwanna Brooks of Lafayette fell overboard on Carnival cruise ship into the Gulf of Mexico. Passengers say they observed her and her husband Scott Brooks arguing at dinner. Juwanna was reported overboard about a half hour later. The The Mexican Navy will end their search today whether they find Juwanna or not.

It’ll be a rainy Saturday across much of Louisiana. Cold weather is not expected, but the rain should come hard and heavy for most of the day. National Weather Service Lake Charles meteorologist Jared Rackley says the rain will start Saturday in the early AM hours…
Cut 9 (10) “tomorrow night.”
Heaviest rainfall totals will be in south Louisiana, where as much as three inches could fall.

There are many varieties of King Cakes available. Traditional, fruit filled, cream cheeses, almond and now, cricket. That’s right, cricket. Audubon Insectarium Curator of Animal Programs Zack Lemann says crickets add a depth of flavor to King Cakes…
Cut 15 (13) “king cake”
The cakes are baked from scratch at the Audubon insectarium in New Orleans. You can order one there.

Former Monroe children’s TV show host “Mr. Wonder” will now have to register as a sex offender for 15 years as his plea deal for admitting to indecent behavior with a child back in 1979 was amended. The attorney for Frank Selas is Mike Small…
Cut 10 (11) “was imposed”
Small says Selas could be released in July.

It’s been a year of repairs, replacement and testing for the St. Joseph water system, but it appears it is about ready for public use again. A public health emergency was declared in late 2016 after high amounts of lead was discovered. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says there has been a complete overhaul since then…
cut 6 (11) “….the homes”
It cost 9.5 million dollars to repair the St. Joseph system.

Louisiana receives a green light in a report for nine traffic safety laws it has on the books. Kelley Ray has more.
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

The state health department will offer free flu shots at its 55 parish health units next Wednesday. Immuniization director Dr. Frank Welch says a lot of visitors are coming in soon for Fat Tuesday, so protect yourself beforehand:
Cut 9 (10) “Mardi Gras”
Welch says in severe flu seasons like this one, 700 deaths can be attributed to the flu.