Compared to the last couple of days, it doesn’t feel too bad outside with the sun shining and temperatures in the lows 40s…
cut 4 (07) “..night, tonight”
That’s Alek Krautman, with the National Weather Service, who says most of the state will be under a hard freeze warning tonight into tomorrow morning.

With temperatures dropping below freezing, the Louisiana SPCA strongly encourges pet owners to bring their pets inside tonight. Spokesperson Alicia Haefele says those who do not, could lose their pets…
cut 10 (12) “…as well”
Haefele says if you see a pet left outside in the cold, don’t assume someone else has reported it, call the S-P-C-A or local authorities. Also, if you leave your vehicle outside, check for stray cats when you start your car tomorrow morning.

The freezing temperatures are creating plumbing problems. Wrapping your pipes is recommended, but many are letting the water run overnight to keep their pipes from freezing over. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning advises against this…
cut 8 (08) “…from freezing”
Several towns and cities in Louisiana are dealing with low water pressure, because too many residents are running their faucets.

Former Grambling State University President Doctor Joseph Johnson has passed away after a lengty illness. Johnson was instrumental in a 1981 consent decree that led to an increase in funding for the school, facilitating the creation of the Grambling School of Nursing, and the university’s first doctoral program. Author Mildred Gallot says Johnson persevered, in the face of institutional discrimination…
Cut 13 (11) “for him.”
Johnson was Grambling’s president from 1977 until 1991, during that time the school’s enrollment nearly tripped.

The polar vortex is wreaking havoc across Louisiana, and is suspected as the reason behind a Baton Rouge house fire that resulted in the death of an elderly couple Tuesday morning. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says his office has seen a substantial uptick in the number of fires…
Cut 6 (10) “related to weather.”
Investigators are attributing many of the fires to people taking big risks to keep their homes warm, so be cautious with portable space heaters.

Alek Krautman, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says there’s another hard freeze warning is in effect for tonight into tomorrow morning…
cut 5 (12) “…north Louisiana”
Warmer weather is expected this weekend.

Multiple media reports say Texas A-and-M is making a strong push to hire LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. There was a report on Monday that said Aranda declined the Aggies original offer, but now the reports indicate A-and-M is offering even more money and giving him the freedom to hire his own staff. Aranda is currently the highest paid defensive coordinator in the country making 1.8 million dollars.

The third president in Grambling State’s history has passed away. Doctor Joseph Johnson was the leader of the north Louisiana school from 1977 to 1991 and enrollment nearly tripled during that time. Milda Gallot, who wrote a book on Grambling’s history, says the school also saw new construction, employee raises and new academic programs with Johnson at the helm…
cut 14 (12) “…motivated students”

The Louisiana SPCA says they are getting numerous reports of pets left outside in this extremely cold weather. Some pets are being seized by authorities and owners are being charged with animal cruelty. SPCA spokesperson Alicia Haefele says their officers are responding to all calls concerning outdoor animals left alone…
Cut 9 (11) “them properly.”
Haefele says several parishes require owners to take their pets indoors when temperatures get below freezing.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says his office has been called to investigate nearly 25 fires of commercial and residential structures since the cold snap started. Browning has a few safety tips…
Cut 7 (12) “if you are cooking.”

So what can we expect in state politics for 2018. Kelley Ray spoke with a political analyst….
voicer 5 (31) “…I’m Kelley Ray”

Grambling State is mourning the death of former President Doctor Joseph Johnson. He was a favorite of faculty, students and alumni and served from 1977 to 1991. Mildred Gallot wrote a book about Grambling’s history and remembers Doctor Johnson fondly…
cut 12 (06) “…meant business”
Johnson led student enrollment growth from 26-hundred to a record-setting seven-thousand.

There was snow on the ground in Grand Isle today. Jeff Palermo has more on our frigid weather…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The freezing temperatures are a big threat to plumbing. Wrapping your pipes is recommended, but many are letting the water run overnight to keep their pipes from freezing over. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning advises against this…
cut 8 (08) “…from freezing”

State Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says the governor’s appetite for spending is out of control by only calling a special session if legislative leaders agree to tax increases to deal with a one-billion dollar budget deficit. But Governor Edwards says he’s proposing a revenue neutral plan…
cut 12 (13) “…over time”
Edwards has asked for an agreement in principle with House Republican leaders by January 19th before calling a special session.

The polar vortex is wreaking havoc across Louisiana, and is suspected as the reason behind a Baton Rouge house fire that resulted in the death of an elderly couple Tuesday morning. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says his office has seen a substantial uptick in the number of fires…
Cut 6 (10) “related to weather.”
So far, investigators are attributing many of the fires to people taking big risks to keep their homes warm, so be cautious with portable space heaters.

It will feel a little warmer outside this afternon. Alek Krautman with the National Weather Service in Slidell says high temperatures will get into the low 40s…
cut 4 (07) “…night tonight”
Krautman says another hard freeze warning is in effect for tonight into tomorrow morning.

Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere is blasting Governor John Bel Edwards for the options he’s presented towards solving a looming one-billion dollar budget deficit….
cut 11 (05) “…shortfall”
But Edwards says he’s asking the legislature to approve a revenue neutral plan that would reduce the state sales tax to four-cents, but remove sales tax exemptions for businesses. He plans to call a special session in February to pass a tax reform package, but he wants to have a deal in place with House Republican leadership by January 19th to make sure the special session will not be a waste of time…
cut 13 (12) “…from leadership”
The governor and House Republican leaders have butted heads over budget issues.

Parts of coastal Southeast Louisiana saw snow early this morning. Measurable snow fell in Grand Isle and areas of south Plaquemines Parish. Alek Krautman with the National Weather Service in Slidell says the last time snow stuck to the ground in that area was December 1989…
Cut 3 (11) “Boothville-Venice area”
Highs will be in the low 40s today, but be prepared for another cold night.

LSU economist Doctor Loren Scott says we need to take a wait and see approach before we determine the impact of the GOP tax bill approved by Congress. The complex tax restructuring hit people in some states such as California and New York particularly hard, but Scott says Louisiana is different…
Cut 6 (09) “get hammered.”
So what it is in store for politics in Louisiana in 2018? UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the fiscal cliff will be the first big issue, as the state must address a one-billion dollar budget deficit in next fiscal year’s budget….
cut 7 (08) “….the budget
Cross says political manuevering by candidates seeking to run against Governor John Bel Edwards in 2019 will also be worth watching this year.

Governor Edwards has set a deadline of January 19th to address the fiscal cliff. That deadline was set with the hope legislative leaders would agree on a framework for a deal to address the budget shortfall. State Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere is not happy with the deadline…
Cut 10 (12) “of Louisiana.”
Edwards says will not call a special session in February if there’s no agreement.

Residents in coastal parishes in southeast Louisiana are making minature snowmen as a rare snowfall is covering the ground in coastal towns like Grand Isle and Empire. It will be a little warmer today as high temperatures should get in the 40s, but another hard freeze is expected tonight and into tomorrow morning.

The top Republican party official disagrees with Governor Edwards approach of a January 19th deadline for a deal in principle on solving the fiscal cliff. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 3 (3) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

2018 is a mid-term election year in Congress. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross believes third district Congressmen Clay Higgins will face the most compeititon….
cut 9 (10) “…do it”
Cross believes the rest of Louisiana’s House delegation will be re-elected rather easily.

The toll rate on the Louisiana Highway 1 bridge at Leeville in LaFourche Parish went up as much as 25 percent on January 1st for vehicles to access Port Fourchon and Grand Isle areas. The scheduled increased is mandated as part of the bond agreement when the bridge was constructed in 2009. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson explains…
Cut 14 (11) “see today.”

It is not as cold as yesterday morning but that doesn’t mean we are done with freezing temperatures. Another hard freeze warning is in effect tonight and into tomorrow morning. And along the coast in southeast Louisiana, folks woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground.

So what can we expect in state politics for 2018. Kelley Ray spoke with a political analyst….
voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Kelley Ray”

LSU Economist Doctor Loren Scott says the GOP tax bill could be good news for Louisiana businesses. Republicans say the bill will help maintain the current three percent growth in GDP, and Scott says if that happens, it would be a big boost to the Louisiana economy…
cut 5 (09) “…economy grows”
The toll rate on the L-A 1 bridge in south Lafourche Parish increased as much as 25 percent for some vehicles as of January 1st. The increase is mandated as part of the bond agreement. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says the tolls have paid for a better L-A One bridge and it’s something to keep in mind for motorists who want better roads….
cut 16 (12) “…as well”