A months-long investigation into drug activity tied to Mexican cartels has resulted in 742 arrests statewide. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Louisiana’s film industry is seeing an uptick in activity. Andre Champagne reports that after a couple of slow years, movie production is picking back up…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Authorities have announced the arrest of 742 suspected gang members and drug dealers across Louisiana as part of an effort to crackdown on drugs that enter Louisiana that are tied to Mexican cartels. State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges says this announcement should serve as a strong message to those involved in gang activity or violent crime…

Cut 3 (06) “…you to justice” 

Nearly five-hundred of the arrests occurred in the Alexandria and Shreveport areas, 369 were in the Alexandria area. Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood says illegal drugs are constantly moving through central Louisiana because of I-49…

Cut 4 (14) “…like a hub.”

The U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana, Zachary Keller, it will be his office that prosecutes many of these cases. He highlighted one of the cases out of Shreveport…

Cut 5 (14) “…mandatory minimum.”

The crackdown began in October and led to the recovery of 176 firearms statewide, more than 15 kilograms of fentanyl, more than two-thousand fentanyl pills, 44 kilograms of meth and 20 kilograms of cocaine.

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Governor Landry has sent President Trump a letter, formally requesting a major disaster declaration for nine parishes in northeast Louisiana following the winter storm, and the state’s entire congressional delegation is urging him to approve it. Landry notes that the state has already incurred more than 11-million dollars in costs related to the storm, meeting the threshold for a disaster declaration. Senator Bill Cassidy says with such a declaration, FEMA can help those affected with some much-needed financial assistance.

Cut 6 (06) “…emergency hotel stays.”

Cassidy notes that with people busy putting their lives back together, the last thing on their minds is filing their tax returns.

Cut 7 (10) “…in on time.”

Cassidy says that tax relief would not only apply to individuals, but also to small business owners.

Cut 8 (09) “…filing their taxes.”

The nine parishes Landry’s request covers are Bienville, De Soto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, and West Carroll.

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It’s been a strong start to the year for Hollywood South, as there are six film productions either shooting or in preparation in the state. Jason Waggenspack, the president of Film Louisiana and the CEO of The Ranch Film Studios, says two of the film productions are feature films.

Cut 9 (15)  “…Netflix.”

The Netflix produced movie is called “A Christmas Kind of Love,” and it’s utilizing Second Line Stages in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans.

The Netflix produced movie is called “A Christmas Kind of Love” and it’s utilizing Second Line Stages in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. Waggenspack expects Hollywood South activity will remain strong through the year…

Cut 10 (10) “…U-S.”

Waggenspack says movie production in Louisiana and the United States was slower than normal the last two seasons. He says the writers and actors strikes in 2023 resulted in more movie production in Canada and Europe, but but film production is now coming back to the U-S…

Cut 11 (10) “…in the United States ”

During the Super Bowl last night, many fans had one eye on the game and one eye on their phones doing Google searches. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A multi-parish drug trafficking investigation in central Louisiana leads to a 12-count indictment against 11 individuals that were allegedly involved in buying and selling large amounts of meth and cocaine. Jeff Palermo has the story..

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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While the Seattle Seahawks are celebrating a Super Bowl title today, the New England Patriots are taking pride in what they accomplished this season. They reached the big game one season after going 4-and-13, setting a new record for a Super Bowl team with the worst record in the season prior. Defensive tackle Milton Williams of La Tech, who won the Super Bowl last season with the Eagles, says the team came a long way in just one year.

Cut 3 (13) “…the coaches, everybody.”

One of those players Williams was alluding to was third year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte of LSU. While the New Iberia native’s numbers this year were similar to those of last year, he caught six touchdown passes this season, compared to three last season. Boutte says the Super Bowl loss stings.

Cut 4 (09) “…it do hurt.”

Boutte says he and the rest of the offense had no answers for the Seahawks’ stifling defense.

Cut 5 (07) “…up short today.”

While Boutte and fellow LSU Tiger Will Campbell are wondering what could have been, it’s a different story for their former Tigers teammate Anthony Bradford, as the Seahawks guard is celebrating a Super Bowl title.

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Thanks to modern technology, many fans had one eye on their TVs and one eye on their phones doing Google searches during the Super Bowl. Google Search and Trends Expert Jennifer Jones says while many fans during the game were searching for quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Darnold, as well as MVP Kenneth Walker the Third, there was someone else who was also dominating the searches.

Cut 6 (10) “…five field goals.”

Besides the game itself, one of the biggest conversation pieces is always the commercials, and this year is no different. Jones says a few stood out in Google searches during the game.

Cut 7 (08) “…top searched one.”

Of course, this year, the biggest show besides the game was the Bad Bunny show at halftime. Jones says while there were many memorable moments during Bad Bunny’s 13-minute performance, one stood out in particular among those on Google.

Cut 8 (11) “…the halftime show.”

Jones explains the couple, who has not been publicly identified as of yet, had invited Bad Bunny to attend their wedding, and Bad Bunny countered by inviting them to exchange their vows during his halftime show. The end result was the viral moment that has everyone talking.

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At a press conference in Leesville, federal officials announced a Lafayette grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against 11 individuals involved in an alleged multi-parish drug trafficking organization. Assistant US Attorney LaDonte Murphy says the suspects are accused of possessing or conspiring to possess large amounts of meth and cocaine with an intent to distribute…

Cut 9 (13)  “…into our markets.”

Authorities say the eleven people indicted have been arrested and taken into custody. Most of the suspects are from Vernon Parish, two of the alleged traffickers are from Sabine Parish. Murphy says the drugs originated in Mexico and were trafficked across the border…

Cut 10 (14) “…central Louisiana.”

FBI agent Jonathan Tapp says one of the search warrants they executed resulted in law enforcement recovering a large amount of cocaine and fentanyl…

Cut 11 (13) “…gold bars.”