The congressional map with a second majority-Black district is getting pushback and some Republicans plan to challenge it in court.  Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Most of the state north of Interstate 10 is under a flood watch, with the heaviest rains expected to come tomorrow. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

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Governor Jeff Landry has signed his first bills into law. They come from last week’s special session and they include a new Congressional district map and a measure that will bring party primaries to federal elections in 2026. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the governor wanted closed party primaries for nearly all elections, but didn’t push the issue…

Cut 3 (10) “…he’s known for.”

The new Congressional District map drastically changes the 6th district currently represented by Republican Garret Graves. If Graves runs for re-election in the 6th district, he’s expected to face strong opposition from a Democrat, possibly state senator Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge. Alford says if Graves’ is not re-elected, his days in politics are not over…

Cut 4 (13) “..somewhere.”

Up next for Governor Landry and the state legislature is a special session addressing crime. It’s expected to begin a month from now. Alford says the governor has not laid out his exact plans for the special session, but lawmakers are already proposing ideas…

Cut 5 (15) “..mental health issues.” 

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The congressional map with a second majority-Black district passed in the special session is getting pushback from some Republicans. St. Bernard Parish Representative Mike Bayham says the map that stretches the 6^th congressional district from parts of East Baton Rouge Parish to parts of Caddo Parish resembles one the courts struck down in the 90s.

Cut 6 (12) “…demographics” 

Bayham is among a group that plans to challenge the map in court. He says this map also separates a neighborhood in his own legislative district of St. Bernard Parish.

Cut 7 (11) “…absurb.” 

He says the other side of the street is in the 2^nd Congressional District.

Bayham says the map is ducking in and out of neighborhoods in St. Bernard Parish and it’s more like an abstract painting versus a map that represents a community of interest.

Cut 8 (10) “…Federal map.” 

This is also the map favored and signed by Governor Jeff Landry.

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Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who was the lone Republican in the state’s congressional district who voted in favor of The Biden Administration’s Infrastructure bill says the state will benefit immensely from investments in broadband. For example, in northwest Louisiana…

Cut 9 (05) “…investment there.” 

And part of that investment Cassidy says is teaching and preparing students as young as elementary school for a career in computer science.

Infrastructure funds will also go towards an I-20 corridor Amtrak line connecting Atlanta and Dallas. Cassidy says it also includes the cities of Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe.

Cut 10 (11) “…to live.”

Cassidy says his congressional-directed spending is also benefiting Barksdale Airforce Base and the vision for northwest Louisiana to become a cyber hub. Another project he mentions is one to help the Department of Defense better train pilots in conducting rescue missions.

Cut 11 (08) “…even more.”

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LSU Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels was named today as the winner of the 2023 Manning Award, which goes to the top quarterback in the nation. Daniels led the nation with nearly five-thousand yards of total offense

Cut 12 (12)  “…being here”  

This is the 20th year of the Manning award and Daniels is the third LSU honoree. Joe Burrow and Jamarcus Russell are the other two winners from LSU. Saints legend Archie Manning says Daniels 2023 campaign will go down as one of the greatest ever…

Cut 13 (10) “…football team” 

You might be tempted to prune foliage that was damaged during last week’s freeze, but experts encourage you to resist the urge. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the new Congressional district map approved by lawmakers. Jeff Palermo reports the new map makes it harder for Republican Garret Graves to get re-elected this year…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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After last week’s deep freeze, chances are your lawn isn’t as attractive as it used to be, and you might be tempted to prune away unsightly foliage. LSU Ag Center Horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard says not to because the damaged leaves will protect the plants from the next freeze.

Cut 3 (09) “…bounce back.”

Kirk-Ballard also discourages you from fertilizing because you don’t want to encourage new growth when we’ll most likely have another freeze. She says to hold off until late March, or early April to prune and fertilize your garden.

Cut 4 (10) “…that time.”

To further protect your plants, especially the tropical or tender ones that received damage, Kirk-Ballard says to keep them covered and to add mulch.

Cut 5 (08) “…be patient.” 

But if you’re unable to resist the urge and choose to go ahead and remove the dead foliage, she encourages you to then cover the plant and insulate it with mulch to further protect it.

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A wet week is coming up for the Bayou State. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says to expect heavy rainfall and the possibility of flooding through Thursday..

Cut 6 (07) “…higher amounts” 

Jacquemin says forecasts show average rainfall totals between four and eight inches through the week, with the possibility of  higher amounts. He says localized flooding for urban and poor drainage areas is possible and water levels for multiple river basins will rise…

Cut 7 (12) “…of Louisiana.” 

Jacquemin says the first round of heavy rainfall will arrive late tonight into Tuesday and flood watches and warnings are possible…

Cut 8 (09) “…do occur” 

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The political future for Baton Rouge Republican Garret Graves is cloudy after the Louisiana Legislature approved a new Congressional map that turns his district into a second Black-majority district. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Graves has served in Congress since 2015 and his re-election chances for this year have taken a major hit

Cut 9 (04) “…big disadvantage” 

Graves’ current district includes the Baton Rouge capitol region, down the Mississippi River, and into Thibodaux, Houma, and Morgan City.

The new sixth Congressional district will stretch from Baton Rouge through Alexandria and Natchitoches and into Shreveport.

A federal judge ordered the Louisiana Legislature to draw a new map after it was determined the one approved in 2022 underrepresented the Black vote by not having two majority-minority districts. Pinsonat expects a lawsuit contesting this latest map…

Cut 10 (05) “…the Constitution”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is not happy the Louisiana Legislature drew a new map. He believes they should have demanded a federal trial on the map approved in 2022. Pinsonat says the Congressional redistricting battle is far from over…

Cut 11 (11) “…one particular district”

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Jury selection is underway in the re-trial of Cardell Hayes. He fatally shot former Saints star Will Smith in 2016. Hayes says the shooting was in self-defense after an argument erupted following a car crash in the Garden District. Hayes was convicted of manslaughter, but it was tossed out due to a non-unanimous jury verdict. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says typically the defense has an advantage in re-trials

Cut 12 (10)  “…and accuracies”  

10 of the 12 jury members who sat through Hayes’ first trial determined he was guilty of manslaughter. Ciolino says if the jury splits again, it’s a victory for the defense…

Cut 13 (12) “…plea” 

Hayes has been free since 2021. The judge expects the trial to last about a week.