There’s been a desire for a long time to build a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, but finding the funding for the projected three-billion dollar project has been difficult. A state lawmaker has come up with a idea that could lead to the necessary federal funds and that is name the new bridge after President Donald Trump….

Cut 9 (12) “….done for Louisiana”

That is Monroe Representative Michael Echols who has filed a bill calling on the proposed bridge to be named after the current president.

The United Cajun Navy is now involved in the search for the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, during the early morning hours on February 1st. Incident Commander Josh Gill is on the ground in Tucson.

Cut 6 (08) “…the sheriff’s department.”

Gill says he and his team are canvassing the area near the 84-year-old’s home with flyers and are speaking to as many people as they can.

As the Louisiana Lottery celebrates one milestone, it celebrates a second milestone. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Tonight is the State of Union and House Speaker Mike Johnson from Bossier Parish says the plan is to have the Gold Medal men’s U-S Hockey team in attendance…

Cut 19 (12) “…America’s team”

The women’s US Hockey team declined Trump’s invitation to attend the State of the Union.

Amazon has selected Louisiana to invest 12-billion dollars for a data center campus. The interconnected campuses will be built in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Governor Landry says it’s believed to be the biggest single investment by a company in the history of northwest Louisiana – as well as one of the most important.

Cut 4 (10) “…and digital infrastructure.”

Landry says these three data centers will create thousands of jobs.

Louisiana has tried for years to get funding to build a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge to alleviate the traffic congestion. The projected price tag is three billion dollars, but Monroe Representative Michael Echols believes if they name the new bridge after President Trump, the state will receive the funding it needs…

Cut 8 (12) “..this thing built”

Echols has authored a bill for the upcoming session to call a third Baton Rouge bridge the Donald J Trump Expressway.

The Louisiana Lottery announces it has given public education in Louisiana more than five billion dollars. When the Louisiana Lottery Corporation was created 35 years ago, state lawmakers said 35-percent of lotto revenue must go to K-through-12 schools..

Cut 14 (11) “…Minimum Foundation Program”

That’s Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Chrislyn Maher.

LSU sophomore Kailin Chio has emerged as one of the top gymnasts in the country. She scored perfect 10’s on the balance beam and vault last Friday versus Oklahoma and has won 22 event titles this year, one shy of the 23 event titles she had last year. Head Coach Jay Clark…

Cut 11 (12) “…to be”

The Second ranked LSU gym team hosts third ranked Alabama on Friday night.

Amazon is investing 12 billion dollars in northwest Louisiana as the technology company will build three data centers, two of them in Caddo Parish and the other one in Bossier Parish. Governor Jeff Landry says these data centers will create thousands of jobs…

Cut 5 (12) “…northwest Louisiana”

The project is expected to create 540 new jobs that pay salaries that are 50-percent higher than the state average. Construction on the data center campuses is expected to begin immediately, with operations launching in phases over the next several years.

Former Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham is leaving his job as second in command at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a statement, Abraham says he can no longer work for the CDC because of unforeseen family obligations.

By state law 35-percent of Louisiana Lottery Revenues are re-directed to pay for public education. The Louisiana Lottery is pleased to announce they’ve just crossed the five-billion dollar transfer threshold and spokesperson Chrislyn Maher says those recent big Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots helped them cross this milestone…

Cut 15 (10) “…really big jackpots”

LSU sophomore Kailin Chio is one of the best gymnasts in college athletics. Chio scored a perfect 10 on the beam and the vault last Friday against top ranked Oklahoma. Coach Jay Clark says what Chio is doing is amazing, but for them to win a national title, the other athletes need to hit their routines too…

Cut 12 (11) “…scores up there”

Second ranked LSU hosts 3^rd ranked Alabama.

Amazon is investing 12-billion dollars in northwest Louisiana as the technology company plans to build three A-I data centers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. This would result in 540 permanent jobs. Data centers use large amounts of water and they also need a lot of power to operate. But Governor Jeff Landry says Amazon has told the state officials’ power bills will not go up…

Cut 6 (08) “…these projects”

Landry says Amazon Web Services also plans to invest 400-million dollars in public water infrastructure.

The Louisiana Lottery says it has now transferred five-billion dollars to the state treasury that’s used to fund public schools….

Cut 13 (08) “…from ticket sales”

Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Chrislyn Maher says state law requires that 35-percent of Louisiana Lottery revenues must go towards public education.

If another Mississippi River Bridge is built in the Baton Rouge area, one state lawmaker believes it should be named after President Trump. Monroe Republican Representative Michael Echols says if his legislation is approved, the proposed bridge that would be built south of the current Mississippi River Bridge would be named the “President Donald J. Trump Expressway.”

Cut 7 (10) “…get that done.”

Cost is a big hurdle when it comes to building a bridge that would connect LA-Highway One in Iberville Parish to LA Highway 30. The projected price tag is three billion dollars.

An elevated fire danger exists once again today because of dry and windy conditions. Fire officials say they contained a wildfire near South Beauregard High School. According to Ward Six Fire, the blaze started when someone driving on the highway lost a wheel and the wheel was hot enough to the start a fire in the dry grass along the road.

Big economic development news in northwest Louisiana. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (34) “….I’m Colleen Crain”

Governor Landry has asked the U-S Department of Education to expand its investigation of diversity, equity and inclusion practices at the state’s higher education board to also include all public colleges and universities. Earlier this month, the federal government began looking into whether the Board of Regents violated the Civil Rights Act by calling on public universities to increase the number of underrepresented minorities.

There’s been a desire for a long time to build a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, but finding the funding for the projected three-billion dollar project has been difficult. A state lawmaker has come up with a idea that could lead to the necessary federal funds and that is name the new bridge after President Donald Trump….

Cut 9 (12) “….done for Louisiana”

That is Monroe Representative Michael Echols who has filed a bill calling on the proposed bridge to be named after the current president.

The Louisiana Lottery announces it has given public education in Louisiana more than five billion dollars. When the Louisiana Lottery Corporation was created 35 years ago, state lawmakers said 35-percent of lotto revenue must go to K-through-12 schools..

Cut 14 (11) “…Minimum Foundation Program”

That’s Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Chrislyn Maher.

Amazon has selected Louisiana to invest 12-billion dollars for a data center campus. The campus is being built in northwest Louisiana in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Governor Landry says it’s believed to be the biggest single investment by a company in the history of northwest Louisiana – as well as one of the most important.

Cut 4 (10) “…and digital infrastructure.”

Landry says these three data centers will create thousands of jobs.

Pineville Representative Mike Johnson is proposing stiffer penalties for students convicted of making threats towards a school. Prison time could be anywhere from two to 15 years…

Cut 17 (14) “…consequences”

Johnson’s legislation will be heard in the upcoming legislative session.

A state lawmaker has come up with a plan to get the federal government to help pay for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge — and that is to name it after President Trump.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

LSU sophomore Kailin Chio is one of the top gymnasts in the country. She scored two 10s in last week’s meet against Oklahoma, even though she didn’t think her vault, which received a perfect score was that great…

Cut 10 (13) “…the other ones”

2^nd ranked LSU hosts 3^rd ranked Alabama on Friday.

Amazon has selected Louisiana to invest 12-billion dollars for a data center campus. The campus is being built in northwest Louisiana in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Governor Landry says it’s believed to be the biggest single investment by a company in the history of northwest Louisiana – as well as one of the most important.

Cut 4 (10) “…and digital infrastructure.”

Landry says these three data centers will create thousands of jobs.

A year-long narcotics investigation in Terrebonne Parish has resulted in multiple arrests and the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of the sheriff’s office. Lt. Blake Tabor says those arrested range in ages 25 to 59.

Cut 13 (10) “…this case.”

Tabor says The coordinated operation led to the recovery about 70 pounds of methamphetamine and nearly one pound of Heroin and Fentanyl.

One state lawmaker wants to put a stop to threats being made against schools. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

One more cold night as we’ll see low temperatures tomorrow morning get below freezing for a large portion of the state. But we’ll see warmer temperatures the rest of the week. It will remain windy too and mostly dry, which means an elevated risk of wild and brushfires.