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…
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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.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says drug traffickers can pay for the proposed U-S Mexico border wall. Cassidy says billions of dollars in drug money crosses the border each year and he says the US is only intercepting a fraction of it…
cut 13 (11) “…going back”
One estimate says it will cost 18-billion dollars to build the border wall.

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…
Cut 3 (09) “long time.”
Head Coach Ed Orgeron says their mission is to develop every aspect of a young man’s life while they are a part of the program and Faulk will be instrumental in this process.

A new Tulane study finds Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Political Science Professor Sally Kenney says another concern is that most of Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:
Cut 7 (09) “would show”
She says minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. Women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana. But 51% of the state is female.
Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is confident they’ll be able to sign Quarterback Drew Brees to a new contract. The 39-year-old’s contract is set to expire in March, but Loomis doesn’t have a time line on when a new deal may get done…
cut 11 (11) “…Drew Brees”
Brees is one of seven Saints players that will play in Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

Negotiations are underway to find a resolution to the impending expiration of the Dream Act, a law that provides legal status to people brought to the US as children. Matt Doyle has the story…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Advocate newspaper reports an LSU task force formed following the death of a fraternity pledge may recommend random drug tests for frat members, eliminating hard alcohol and kegs and frat houses and relocating fraternity tailgates. A full report will be made official next month.

A Tulane study finds Louisiana has made slow progress when it comes to electing minorities and women to judgeships. Political Science Professor Sally Kenney says they are also concerned that President Trump’s nominees to the federal bench in Louisiana and the US have been 91-percent white men…
cut 8 (08) “…18 years”
The President has nominated Wendy Vitter as a federal judge in New Orleans.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis told reporters at the Senior Bowl they want Quarterback Drew Brees to return next season. Brees is coming off a season where he completed an NFL record 72-percent of his passes, but his contract will expire in March. Loomis also says there is a possibility they may draft a quarterback in April…
cut 10 (12) “…number of years”

The ex-leader of State Police did not respond to the more serious allegations of misconduct in an audit produced by the state legislative auditor’s office. An attorney representing Mike Edmonson issued a response today that says he does not have the type of resources needed to respond to the allegations outlined. One accusation is using a state facility for housing and not reporting it on his taxes. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says defending that accusation will be difficult…
cut 14 (07) “…case here”

A fire in Hammond claimed the life of a 60-year-old man living in a travel trailer. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says it appears the victim used an outdoor cooking burner to heat the trailer. Browning says there were no smoke detectors either…:
cut 9 (07) “smoke alarms”
The victim’s name has not been released.
Deaf students have filed a discrimination suit against the Louisiana community college System, alleging they struggled in school because they couldn’t get interpreters and other accommodations for their disability. Plaintiffs’ attorney Andrew Bizer believes Delgado Community College violated the Americans with Disabilities Act…:
Cut 3 (08) “everybody else”
The System would not comment on the pending case but said they take the issue of accessibility for its students very seriously.

No running water in Tallulah because of a power failure at the town’s water treatment plant. The mayor says power has been restored, but more repairs are needed, so it will be until tomorrow before the plant is functioning again and water can start flowing in homes and businesses. In the meantime, Yvonne Lewis, with the city of Tallulah, is asking for help…
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