Louisiana moves up in a big way in the Nation’s Report Card. Andrew Greenstein is in Baton Rouge with details.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Authorities are looking for a 44-year-old inmate who escaped from the Avoyelles Parish Jail last night. Officials say Carl James Ducote Junior of Hessmer fled from the jail after exploiting a structural weakness in the jail’s ceiling. Ducote was incarcerated on trespassing and burglary charges.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says they conducted a record-breaking fentanyl bust during a traffic stop on U-S Highway 11 last week. Lt. Suzanne Carboni says they found 16-thousand pressed fentanyl pills in the vehicle….

Cut 10 (12) “…of this Yukon”

Carboni says 21-year-old Tawan Anthony and the passenger in the vehicle, 41-year-old Regginald Henry, both of Pearl River, were arrested.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation is receiving an additional three million dollars from the state legislature to pick up litter along interstates. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they started using this money by cleaning up in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl 59…

Cut 7 (08) “…our contract”

Mallet says litter pickup is not only costly, but it diverts money from road improvement projects.

A group of 17 Louisiana lawmakers sent a letter to the NFL urging a family-friendly halftime show for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Denham Springs Senator Valarie Hodges says since Louisiana allocated state funds for the event, its programming should reflect wholesome values.

Cut 4 (12) “…watching it on television.”

Kendrick Lamar is this year’s Super Bowl halftime performer.

Tens of thousands of visitors will be coming to New Orleans for the Super Bowl and then Mardi Gras. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick had this announcement regarding Mardi Gras parades…

Cut 15 (14) “….make things safer”

Kirkpatrick is confident in their security plan for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

Strawberry farmers are assessing the damage done by last week’s arctic blast. Rachael Harris, the owner of Harris Strawberry Farm in Springfield, says they took proactive measures like covering them with cloth. But that only went so far.

Cut 10 (13) “…and protected them.”

But Harris says because they lost a majority of their berries and blooms, it will result in a low supply of Louisiana Strawberries for at least the next three weeks.

Louisiana taxpayers can begin filing their state income tax returns today. Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says this year they are asking filers to submit their returns electronically through L-D-R’s Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point, also known as La-TAP…

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The La-TAP portal can be found on the Department of Revenue’s website.

Seventeen Louisiana legislators are calling for a family friendly Super Bowl halftime show. Denham Springs Senator Valarie Hodges is excited the Super Bowl is in New Orleans but past Super Bowl halftime performances have not been appropriate for children

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The Louisiana lawmakers sent a letter to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and Louisiana Stadium Expo District calling on them to urge the NFL to ensure Super Bowl halftime shows reflect family-friendly values.

Steel wedge barriers have been installed in the French Quarter ahead of the Super Bowl. It’s too keep vehicles off Bourbon Street. NOPD Superintendent Anee Kirkpatrick says the NFL is also bringing in barriers of their own…

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The arctic blast has put a temporary freeze on strawberry farmers, including one in Livingston Parish. Colleen Crain reports.

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There’s the potential for severe thunderstorms tomorrow in Louisiana. The National Weather Service says a cold front will have the potential to produce strong to severe storms across a large portion of our state. The primary threats will be damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.

Seventeen members of the Louisiana Legislature are threatening to pull funding from the Superdome if the Super Bowl halftime show is not “family friendly.” Denham Springs Senator Valarie Hodges says the state has spent at least 5 million dollars for economic development initiatives related to the Super Bowl and they do not want children subjected to performers wearing very little clothing or doing sexually suggestive gestures…

Cut 6 (12) “…innocence of children”

Kendrick Lamar is the star of this year’s Halftime performance.

President Donald Trump has suggested it might be time to eliminate FEMA. He’s at least looking at revamping the federal disaster response agency. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says FEMA is far from perfect, but there still needs to be something like FEMA to assist states…

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New Orleans Police release their preliminary security plans for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Buc-ee’s has bought the property where they’ll build one of their supersized gas stations and convenience stores in Ruston. Mayor Ronny Walker told the Lincoln Parish Journal that construction will begin in about two months on the roads and infrastructure along the I-20 Tarbutton Road Interchange.

Several legislators are urging the NFL to promote a family-friendly halftime show for the Super Bowl in New Orleans.  Sean Richardson has more.

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A big-name candidate for the Saints head coaching job says he doesn’t want the job. Former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has pulled his name from consideration.Some say Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has emerged as the top candidate to get the job.

Last week’s historic winter storm caused damage to Louisiana’s strawberry crop. Rachael Harris, the owner of Harris Strawberry Farm in the Livingston Parish town of Springfield, says they lost 80-percent of the berries and blooms on the plant, but the plants survived. Harris says that means you’ll see fewer Louisiana strawberries at your local grocery store the next few weeks, but they’ll be ready for Easter and the Strawberry Festival in April. She says this is the second year in a row that strawberry farmers have had to deal with a setback…

Cut 12 (09) “….out of business”

President Trump has floated the idea of abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but for now he’s signed an executive order to review FEMA. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the federal government needs some sort of an agency to help states respond to disasters…

Cut 9 (070 “…federal response”

A group of 17 Louisiana lawmakers sent a letter to the NFL urging a family-friendly halftime show for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Denham Springs Senator Valarie Hodges says since Louisiana allocated state funds for the event, its programming should reflect wholesome values.

Cut 4 (12) “…watching it on television.”

Kendrick Lamar is this year’s Super Bowl halftime performer.

Meanwhile, federal resources are making their way to New Orleans to make sure the French Quarter is safe. The Department of Homeland Security is bringing in SWAT teams and K-9 patrols. New Orleans Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Hans Ganthier says their presence will be felt everywhere

Cut 14 (10) “…and the CBD.”

Governor Jeff Landry will provide more information about Super Bowl Security at 1 PM press conference today.

The Landry Administration is trying to figure what President Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans will mean for Louisiana. The state receives millions in federal dollars. In a statement. Governor Landry says they are seeking clarity as to the depth of this action, but they do support Trump’s efforts to cut government waste. A federal judge has temporarily blocked much of the President’s order.

The arctic blast has put a temporary freeze on strawberry farmers, including one in Livingston Parish. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”