DOTD is prepping roadways for tomorrow’s snowstorm. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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South Louisiana Braces for a winter storm that is expected to start tonight and end tomorrow night.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Governor Jeff Landry has issued a state of emergency as two to six inches of snow is expected to fall across much of central and south Louisiana. Landry says once of the winter precipitation starts falling, stay off the roads…

Cut 3 (12) “…to travel.” 

Landry is also urging outdoorsmen not to hunt during the snowstorm…

Cut 4 (13) “…proper shelter.”

Louisiana is also expecting the coldest temperatures of the winter with temperatures dropping into the teens Tuesday night into Wednesday. A homeless man died from hypothermia earlier this month when Louisiana experienced cold temperatures. Landry is encouraging local governments to open warming shelters…

Cut 5 (14) “…safe as well.”

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Needless to say, while not unprecedented, snow and ice are not things that Louisiana is accustomed to. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says crews have been busy prepping the roads for severe driving conditions.

Cut 6 (14) “…across the state.”

Mallett says while prep work started yesterday, it will continue throughout the day today.

Cut 7 (14) “…to ice over.”

Since there are no snowplows anywhere in the State of Louisiana, DOTD is bringing in help from Arkansas to perform those tasks as needed. A 14-mile stretch of I-49 in Rapides Parish is closed due to the incoming storm, and conditions may force additional Interstates closures, but Mallett says he hopes it doesn’t come to that.

Cut 8 (09) “…during this storm.”

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South Louisiana is under a winter storm warning as residents prepare for a rare heavy snow event expected to begin tonight. According to LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim, this is a   generational storm for South Louisiana.

Cut 9 (18)  “…major snow here.”

Keim says it’s expected to snow most of the day on Tuesday and prepare for more than just flurries.

Cut 10 (16) “…in this particular case.”

Keim says the snowfall will end tomorrow night, but Wednesday will be brutally cold, and the snow will stick around. He advises residents to stay off the roads if possible and take necessary precautions to stay warm and safe.

Cut 11 (12) “…hang around in your neighborhood.”

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Louisiana State Police are getting ready for the winter storm. Trooper Shelby Mayfield says they’ve been getting ready for the last several days.

Cut 12 (12) “…or any emergencies”

Trooper Mayfield says when the snow starts falling, if you do not have to be out on the roadways, stay off them.

Cut 13 (14)  “…have to be.”

Mayfield says if you absolutely have to be on the roadways, use common sense.

Cut 14 (06) “…cruise control on.”

President-elect Donald Trump gets inaugurated today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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The Humane Society of Louisiana urges pet owners to provide extra protection from the cold.  Sean Richardson has more.

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TikTok’s days in the U.S. could be numbered. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Today is the day when the 45th President officially becomes the 47th President. Donald Trump takes the oath of office at 11 this morning. When Trump begins his second non-consecutive term, he will do so with a Republican-controlled House and a Republican-controlled Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson says he hopes that will lead to the passage of some of his key agenda items, like renewing his tax cuts from his first term.

Cut 4 (13) “…Trump tax cuts.”

Once a pair of Trump’s cabinet nominees are confirmed, Republicans will only have a 217-to-215 majority in the House, meaning the G-O-P cannot lose a single vote in the House to pass legislation without Democratic support until those vacancies are filled by way of special elections. Historically, the party in power almost always loses seats in the House in midterm elections, so Republicans may only have two years to pass some of Trump’s most ambitious goals. Congresswoman Julia Letlow says she’s not worried about that.

Cut 5 (08) “…I possibly can.”

Democrat Cleo Fields, who like Trump is making his return to Congress after being out of office, says both parties need to work together to pass common-sense legislation that will improve the lives of all Americans.

Cut 6 (07) “…care about education.”

Fields says with a House that’s split almost right down the middle, it’s more important than ever for the two parties to cooperate.

Cut 7 (04) “…to work together.”

Due to dangerously cold weather in Washington, DC, the swearing-in ceremony will take place in the Capitol Rotunda.

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With temperatures dropping into the 20s and 30s overnight across Louisiana, the Humane Society of Louisiana urges pet owners to provide extra protection from the cold. Pet owners should bring dogs and cats indoors.  Outdoor dogs should have fresh, dry straw in their shelters, and insulated plastic bins can serve as makeshift shelters for outdoor cats.

Cut 8 (12) “…your animals inside.”

Dorson says if bringing your pets indoors another option is moving them into a garage or storage area, but do so responsibly.

Cut 9 (12)  “…come to our state.”

To treat hypothermia, bring pets indoors, wrap them in warm blankets, and dry wet fur. Advanced care may include warm IV fluids, heated pads, or warm oxygen therapy. Dorson emphasizes that if you’re cold, your pets likely are too, urging owners to protect their animals from harsh weather conditions.

Cut 10 (10) “…the best policy.”

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TikTok could be on its last legs after the Supreme Court upholds a law that bans the popular app in the U.S. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, which the Chinese government controls. As such, the U.S. is concerned that the Chinese government has access to Americans’ data. LSU law professor Del Wright says ByteDance argued that the ban was about stifling free speech, and the Supreme Court rejected that.

Cut 11 (10) “…and national security.”

Last week, President Biden said he would not enforce the ban, essentially punting that task to his successor, Donald Trump. Wright says the law is still on the books regardless of what Trump does or does not do.

Cut 12 (15) “…by lawsuits.”

Wright says the Supreme Court’s ruling, however, isn’t necessarily the final nail in the coffin for TikTok. He says the law contains some out provisions.

Cut 13 (09) “…close the deal.”

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The biggest snowstorm in decades could take place in Louisiana tomorrow. The National Weather Service says four to six inches of snow could fall north of I-10 to south of Alexandria. Two to four inches could fall south of the I-10-12 corridor and one to two inches could fall between Alexandria and I-20. And NWS Meteorologist Donald Jones says temperatures Tuesday night into Wednesday will be in the teens for most of the state…

Cut 14 (13) “…like temperatures.”

But it’s the snow that everyone is talking about. Jones says predicted snowfall accumulation could fluctuate, but the current projection is four to six inches of snow along the I-10 corridor, but Alexandria, Bunkie, Houma, Morgan City, New Orleans, Hammond, and Slidell could see three inches and possibly more…

Cut 15 (13) “…verify.”

Jones says because temperatures will be below freezing for most of the day on Tuesday, freezing rain is less likely…

Cut 16 (16) “…freezing rain.”

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Jayden Daniels’ magical season for the Washington Commanders continues for at least another week. To the surprise of nearly everyone in the NFL world, perhaps except for Daniels himself, the Commanders ousted the NFC’s top seed, the Detroit Lions, 45-31, in the Divisional Playoffs. The Heisman Trophy-winning former LSU quarterback said the Lions didn’t go 15-and-2 in the regular season for nothing.

Cut 17 (06)  “…challenge for us.”

Daniels came up a yard short of 300 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Daniels says the game – just like the season – was a grind.

Cut 18 (13)   “…position like this.”

The Washington franchise will appear in the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 33 years. If the Commanders win next week, Daniels would be the first rookie ever to start at quarterback in the Super Bowl.

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The fifth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team improved to 20-0 with an 80-63 victory over Flroida. It’s the second time in program history the Lady Tigers won their first 20 games. Mikayla Williams had 22 points and Aneesah Morrow added 20 points and 10 boards. After allowing Florida to score 21 points in the first quarter, Coach Kim Mulkey’s team played much better defense…

Cut 19 (18) “…only six.”

The win sets up a huge matchup on Thursday night in Columbia, South Carolina as LSU will face the defending national champion Gamecocks. After Sunday’s game, Mulkey was not ready to talk about Thursday’s tilt…

Cut 20 (20) “…their place.”