Governor Jeff Landry announces he’s sending Louisiana National Guard troops to the southern border to assist the Texas National Guard. Louisiana National Guard Brigadier General Michael Greer says their tasks will be assigned through the Texas National Guard, but they will not be doing detention…
Cut 21 (10) “…under Texas law”
The 150 troop deployment could begin next month.

State Treasurer John Fleming has come out in opposition to the proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to Elevance Health. Fleming says he’s looked into what has happened in other states when Blue Cross was sold to Elevance Health…
cut 10 (11) “…to increase”
Elevance Health says it’s a trusted source of health coverage to more than 47 million people across the country.

It’s Super Bowl weekend and Las Vegas is hosting its first Super Bowl. Next year, New Orleans will host its record tying 11th Super Bowl. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is in Las Vegas for the official handoff ceremony that will take place Monday. Nungesser is glad Governor Jeff Landry is serious about reducing crime in New Orleans…
cut 9 (12) “…to go”
Super Bowl 59 will be played on February 9th, 2025.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is looking for independent short filmmakers to submit entries for the 13th annual PBS Short Film Festival. LPB spokesperson Colleen Spillane (Spuh-lan) says this is the tenth year Louisiana has participated and talent from the Pelican State has been represented every year in the past decade with an entry.
Cut 4 (08) “…in our state.”
Filmmakers are encouraged to visit lpb.org/filmfest for information on how to enter and specs for their submission.

Governor Jeff Landry announces he’s sending Louisiana National Guard troops to the southern border to assist the Texas National Guard. Louisiana National Guard Brigadier General Michael Greer says their tasks will be assigned through the Texas National Guard, but they will not be doing detention…
Cut 21 (10) “…under Texas law”
The 150 troop deployment could begin next month.

And the governor has released the call for the special session that will allow legislators to pass tough on crime legislation. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the Republican governor and GOP legislators will look to reverse many of the criminal justice reform policies that former Governor John Bel Edwards advocated for in 2017….
cut 14 (08) “…four years”

State Treasurer John Fleming has announced his opposition to the sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to Elevance Health. Fleming says in life an important principle is….if it’s not broke, don’t fix it…
cut 11 (08) “…be lost”
But Elevance Health says Louisiana can not afford to let special interests stand in the way of better healthcare and better health outcomes.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is seeking independent short films from Louisiana filmmakers. If it’s excellent work, L-P-B will make it part of the annual P-B-S short film festival. L-P-B spokesperson Colleen Spillane says the films need to be between three and 15 minutes long…
cut 6 (08) “…nationwide”
The deadline is February 21st and the website is l-p-b-dot-org-slash-flimfest.

150 Louisiana National Guard troops could be headed to the Southern border in Texas as soon as next month. Governor Jeff Landry says states need to step up, because the federal government is not doing enough to stop people from entering the country illegally. He says the National Guard can also slow the flow of fentanyl crossing the border. The governor says many people know someone who died from a fentanyl overdose.
Cut 28 (13) “…they please”

State Treasurer John Fleming opposes the proposed 2.5 billion dollar sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to Indiana-based Elevance Health. Fleming doesn’t like that Blue Cross will be owned by an out of state, publicly traded corporation…
cut 12 (07) “…this state”
Elevance Health says Louisiana is being subjected to a lot of misinformation about the proposed sale.

Super Bowl 58 is Sunday in Las Vegas and next year it will be in New Orleans. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says America’s biggest sporting event will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the state…
cut 8 (11) “….Super Bowl”

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is seeking entries for the 2024 PBS short film festival. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Landry has released the call for the crime special session. For 17 days starting on February 19th, state lawmakers will consider legislation that would result in harsher penalties for offenders who are 17-years-old. The governor also wants to restrict parole eligibility and increase the penalties for carjacking and expand the methods that the death sentence can be carried out. But Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the courts ultimately protect death row inmates when it comes to civil rights…
cut 15 (07) “…to pass”

State Treasurer John Fleming has come out in opposition to the proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to Elevance Health. Fleming says he’s looked into what has happened in other states when Blue Cross was sold to Elevance Health…
cut 10 (11) “…to increase”
Elevance Health says it’s a trusted source of health coverage to more than 47 million people across the country.

New Orleans will host the Super Bowl for a record tying 11th time next year. And State and city officials are in Las Vegas preparing for what’s ahead….
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Governor Landry will provide an update today on his plan to deploy Louisiana National Guard troops to Texas to help with border security. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Because of financial issues, the town of Boyce has been forced to lay-off its entire police force, except for police chief Ronald Goudeau. The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says it will assist the town of Boyce with law enforcement duties. Boyce Mayor Kelvin McCoy has not commented on the situation.

A teenager was killed in a deputy-involved shooting in Shreveport yesterday afternoon. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says officers were attempting to serve a warrant when 19-year-old Javaria Taylor of Shreveport shot Caddo sheriff’s Deputy Justin Dunn…
cut 10 (09) “….for that”
Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wanted for murder, armed robbery and home invasion charges.

We’re looking at a big weekend of Mardi Gras activities and Super Bowl parties. AAA’s Don Redman says it’s important to have a plan before you head out…
cut 6 (11) “….designated driver”
Redman says statistics show there were over 600 alcohol-related crashes during the 2022 and 2023 Carnival seasons resulting in 18 deaths.

The Landry administration will present a proposed spending plan to legislators today. The administration is projecting a 64-million dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s a manageable deficit
Cut 13 (08) “…out of the budget”
The state is also facing a loss of 600-million dollars in state revenues when a temporary .45 cent sales tax expires in July 2025.

Governor Jeff Landry is expected to provide more information today on his proposal to deploy Louisiana National Guard troops to the U-S Mexico border. Attorney General Liz Murrill says the number of migrants crossing the border is out of control and Congress is unable to pass legislation to improve the situation…
cut 9 (09) “….the border”

A Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after he was shot while attempting to execute an arrest warrant. Sheriff Steve Prator says a man wanted on a homicide charge was killed after he shot at officers who were trying to apprehend him at an apartment complex in Shreveport…
cut 12 (12) “…this person”
The name of the man who was fatally shot has not been released.

For the past two years, the weekend leading up to Mardi Gras day have been deadly on Louisiana roads as alcohol-related crashes increase. AAA’s Don Redman says during the 2022 and 2023 Carnival seasons, there were over 600 alcohol-related crashes with over 300 serious injuries.
Cut 4 (10) “…Mardi Gras Day.”

Big day at the state capitol today. At 11 AM, Governor Landry holds a press conference to provide more details about his plan to deploy the National Guard to the southern border. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says the Biden Administration is not properly managing immigration laws…
cut 8 (11) “…really shocking”
The potential cost of sending the Guard to the southern border is three million dollars.

This afternoon the Landry administration will submit a proposed budget for next fiscal year to the state legislature. The governor is looking at ways to shrink state government. Landry has asked Natural Resources Secretary Tyler Gray to develop a plan to merge D-N-R with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says such a move could be included in the governor’s budget plan…
Cut 15 (12) “…do that”

State Police is investigating a fatal shooting involving officers attempting to execute an arrest warrant in Shreveport yesterday. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says shots were fired in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Prator says one of his deputies Justin Dunn took a bullet.
Cut 10 (09) “…for that.”
The man who was fatally shot was wanted on murder, armed robbery and home invasion charges.

Highway transportation safety advocates are concerned about the combination of Mardi Gras weekend and Super Bowl parties on Sunday night….
cut 5 (11) “…when it’s the Super Bowl”
AAA’s Don Redman says there will be plenty of people traveling into and out of New Orleans on Sunday for the big Bacchus Parade. By the way we are looking at a stormy weekend, but nice weather for Mardi Gras day.