President Joe Biden met with family members of the 14 victims killed in the Bourbon Street attack and attended a prayer service at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. Mr. Biden told those gathered that for those who lost loved ones, things will be very difficult.

Cut 14 (16) “…of her laugh.”

Before his arrival in New Orleans, the President approved Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s request for Mardi Gras 2025 to receive a level one Special Event Assessment Rating, which will allow the city to receive additional federal resources.

In north Louisiana, a winter storm watch has been posted for Thursday into Friday morning for the following the parishes…Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne and Union Parishes. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin…

Cut 29 (08) “…in the morning”

A southwest Louisiana resident who contracted the first human case of highly pathogenic bird flu has died. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (23) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Once again, the U-S News and World Report ranks the DASH diet as one of the top diets. Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center helped develop the DASH Diet and Doctor Catherine Champagne says the diet can lower a person’s blood pressure, reduce stroke risk and improve metabolism for all body sizes…

Cut 8 (12) “…your blood pressure”

A prayer service was held last night at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for the 14 victims of the Bourbon Street Terrorist Attack. Archbishop Gregory Aymond…

Cut 29 (12) “…lose hope”

In an effort to prevent another terrorist attack on New Orleans, the federal Department of Homeland Security has agreed to designate the Carnival as a “level one” event….

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

A diet developed by scientists at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is ranked the second-best overall diet and the top heart-healthy diet by U.S. News & World Report. Women’s Nutrition Research Coordinator Dr. Catherine Champagne says the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension — or DASH Diet is celebrated for combatting high blood pressure.

Cut 7 (09) “…of your diet.”

President Joe Biden has issued a sweeping offshore oil and gas drilling ban that will prevent oil companies to conduct drilling operations along the East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the coasts of Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea. LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director Greg Upton says this will have no impact on domestic energy in the short term, but long term…

Cut 11 (04) “…in the United States”

A prayer service was held last night at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. President Biden was among the mourners on hand to remember the 14 people killed in the terror attack on Bourbon Street New Year’s Day.

Cut 13 (11) “…are not alone.”

Prior to the service, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced the federal Department of Homeland Security has agreed to designate the Carnvial season as a level one event. That’s the same rating the Super Bowl gets, which New Orleans is also hosting next month. It means the federal government will provide additional resources to make sure Mardi Gras parades are safe. Publisher of the Mardi Gras guide Arthur Hardy says the beefed-up security will involve not only things that people will see, including law enforcement in tactical gear, but also what people WON’T see.

Cut 6 (08) “…they’ll find out.”

A diet developed with contributions from scientists at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is ranked the second-best overall diet and the top heart-healthy diet by U.S. News & World Report. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A southwest Louisiana resident becomes the first person in the United States to die from the bird flu. The Louisiana Department of Health says the patient was over the age of 65 and was hospitalized last month after contracting the bird flu from a non-commercial backyard flock of birds and wild birds. L-D-H says this is the only human case of the H-5-N-1 in Louisiana and the risk remains low for the general public.

The mayor of New Orleans is seeking federal assistance on security plans. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Saints completed their worst season since 2005 with another loss yesterday, falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-19. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi wanted to win this one for New Orleans, which has been reeling from last week’s terrorist attack…

Cut 17 (09) “…short term”

The Saints finish the year with a 5-and-12 record.

Louisiana wages have grown 25-percent since 2019 according to a report by the Committee of 100 for Economic Development. Committee of 100 CEO Adam Knapp says that type of wage growth is solid, but it lags the Southern average. But Knapp says the Meta Artificial Intelligence data center coming to Richland Parish should help…

Cut 5 (09) “….the entire state”

The new year means changes to state’s unemployment laws. The number of consecutive weeks a person can be on unemployment has been decreased from 26 weeks to 12 to 20 weeks depending on the state’s unemployment rate. Robert Wooley with the Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state is also cracking down on unemployment fraud and will pursue legal action in certain cases…

Cut 11 (10) “…they would prosecute”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says President Joe Biden has granted Mardi Gras a level one Special Event Assessment Rating, which is the highest potential threat rating the federal government can give to an event. Mardi Gras usually receives a level two rating, but Cantrell says a SEAR 1 rating means they’ll have more federal resources….

Cut 8 (09) “…months ahead”

Cantrell has also asked for the federal government to provide a tactical expert to review the city’s security plans.

Louisiana is experiencing its coldest temperatures of the winter as highs this week will be in the 40s and by the end of the work week, we’ll see high temperatures in the 30s for central and north Louisiana. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s been a mild winter up until this point…

Cut 12 (05) “….this point”

And the National Weather Service says there’s the possibility of wintery precipitation Wednesday night, into Thursday morning for the western side of the state.

The Committee of 100’s (C100) year-end economic report says wages statewide have increased 25-percent since 2019, with the average weekly wage nearly 12-hundred dollars. Committee of 100 CEO Adam Knapp says the state has made progress in bringing in more higher paying jobs, but there’s still more work to do…

Cut 3 (08) “…Louisiana since 2019.”

The report also says healthcare, construction, and professional services will be the fastest job growing sectors through 2032.

What kind of action will Saints owner Gayle Benson take after the Black and Gold just completed its worst season since 2005? NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan….

Cut 13 (07) “…right now”

But Duncan does not expect Benson replace long-time general manager Mickey Loomis.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell wants the federal government to provide the city a tactical expert to help with security planning for the upcoming Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras. Cantrell says one of the things she’d like the tactical expert to do is to determine whether the city’s plans for bollards on Bourbon Street are sufficient to prevent another tragedy like the one that happened on New Year’s Day.

Cut 7 (08) “…for public safety.”

President Biden is visiting the city later today and will attend a prayer service tonight at St. Louis Cathedral.

The Saints wrapped their season in Tampa Bay yesterday with another loss. They finish with a 5-and-12 record. NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan says changes will be made, but don’t expect General Manager Mikey Loomis to be fired…

Cut 14 (19) “…clean house”

As a legal challenge continues in court, today is the first day that schools will have an opportunity to implement Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law. Andrew Greenstein reports Attorney General Liz Murrill issued guidance Friday afternoon.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

President Joe Biden has signed the Social Security Fairness Act. It’s legislation authored by former Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves and it will mean 90-thousand government retirees in Louisiana like teachers, police officers and their spouses will see a 360-dollar per month increase in their Social Security benefits.

Federal authorities say the New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street could have claimed more lives if officers did not kill the suspect after he crashed into construction equipment. Joshua Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the A-T-F New Orleans field office, says Shamsud-Din Jabbar possessed a transmitter with radio receivers designed to ignite two bombs that he placed on Bourbon Street

Cut 10 (09) “…set off the devices.”

Jabbar died in a gun fight with New Orleans Police officers after his vehicle crashed.

President Joe Biden will arrive in New Orleans later today, where he’ll meet with victim family members and talk with federal, state and local officials responding to the terrorist attack. Governor Landry says he wants to speak with the President about issuing a disaster declaration, which the governor says can protecth, health, property and safety following the terrorist attack. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has faith in Governor Landry…

Cut 6 (16) “…city it can be”

As a legal challenge continues in court, today is the first day that schools will have an opportunity to implement Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law. Andrew Greenstein reports Attorney General Liz Murrill has issued guidance…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

What kind of action will Saints owner Gayle Benson take after the Black and Gold just completed its worse season since 2005. Her NBA franchise also has the worst record in the Western Conference. NOLA-dot-com columnist Jeff Duncan….

Cut 13 (07) “…right now”