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.

Governor Jeff Landry is expected to provide more details about deploying the Louisiana National Guard to the southern border at a press conference today at 11. Attorney General Liz Murrill says she supports Landry’s idea of sending the National Guard to the border.
Cut 7 (10) “…states now.”
The cost of sending troops to the border would be around three million dollars.

A Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy was shot yesterday attempting to serve an arrest warrant at a Shreveport apartment complex and authorities say the male suspect died when officers returned fire. Sheriff Steve Prator says State Police is handling the investigation…
cut 11 (11) “…to them”
Prator says the deputy will be okay and the deceased individual was a suspect in a homicide.

Statistics show the weekend before Mardi Gras is the deadliest of Carnival season on Louisiana roadways, and this year, Super Bowl Parties are added to the mix. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Governor Landry is expected to provide more details Thursday about a National Guard deployment to the southern border. It’s estimated it will cost the state three-million dollars. Senator Bill Cassidy says using state dollars to address a federal problem might not be the solution…
Cut 5 (07) “…135 million”
Cassidy says 135-million dollars is what it could cost the state to switch from open primaries to party primaries for federal elections.

Thursday the Landry Administration will submit a proposed budget for next fiscal year. In July 2025, a temporary sales tax will expire, resulting in a 600-million dollar loss in revenues. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s possible tomorrow’s budget proposal will begin to prepare for that fiscal cliff.
cut 14 (10) “…goes away or not”

The LSU football program put the finishing touches on its 2024 recruiting class today. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

New Iberia math teacher Christine Bayard is 25-thousand dollars richer as she received the Milen Educator Award….
cut 7 (09) “…just amazing”
The U-L Lafayette graduate teaches at Johnston-Hopkins Elementary.

U S Senator Bill Cassidy continues to question Governor Jeff Landry’s spending decisions. Cassidy said today he’s not a fan of spending three million dollars to send Louisiana National Guard troops to the U-S Mexico border. Cassidy has been very vocal about party primary elections that he says will cost the state 135-million dollars over ten years. Cassidy says that’s 138-million dollars that could go towards a new I-10 Lake Charles bridge….
cut 4 (12) “…that frustration”
Tomorrow the Landry Adminsitration will submit a proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts in July. In July 2025, a temporary .45-cent sales tax expires and that will result in a 600-million dollar loss in revenues. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s possible the budget the governor’s office presents will begin to prepare for that fiscal cliff.

Two Louisiana teachers won the Milken educator award, the nation’s preeminent teachers’ program. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Five-star defensive tackle Dominick McKinley from Acadiana officially signed with the LSU football team today. Because LSU is short on defensive tackles, McKinley could see the field right away. But the Tigers missed out on five-star athlete Terry Bussey as the Texas A-and-M commitment signed with the Aggies.