More cold air is on the way and temperatures will fall well below the freezing mark on Saturday and Sunday morning. The state health department says the winter storm is responsible for nine deaths, some of the victims died as a result of hypothermia because of the extended power outages. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says this second round of extremely cold air is concerning for the thousands who still do not have power…

Cut 14 (14) “…available”

Two middle school students who just got off a school bus were among eight people injured in a two-vehicle crash in Thibodaux yesterday afternoon….

Cut 10 (07) “…the Honda”

State Police Trooper Henry Perez says a vehicle hit the two kids who were on the side of the road after trying to get back in the proper lane after traveling in the wrong lane in a no passing zone.

The Rockin’1000 musicians are getting ready for tomorrow night’s big show in the Superdome. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 15 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana Works says the state has set a record for nonfarm employment, with just over two million people employed. Louisiana Works Deputy Secretary Osmar Padilla says the job sectors of private education and health services has added 15-thousand jobs over the last year…

Cut 7 (09) “….machinists”

A two-vehicle crash in Thibodaux on Thursday afternoon sends eight people to the hospital, including two children who just got off a school bus. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

The search is on for six escaped inmates from the River Bend Detention Center in Lake Providence. The East Caroll Parish Sheriff’s Office along with several other surrounding agencies are searching for the escapees. Three of the escapees are accused of murder.

The latest employment numbers released by the state agency, Louisiana Works, shows strong employment growth in the state with records set for seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment and private sector employment. Louisiana Works Deputy Secretary Osmar Padilla says most of Louisiana’s metro areas are seeing growth….

Cut 8 (08) “…or anything”

The Baton Rouge area is leading the way with six-thousand new jobs over the last year.

It will be very cold weekend and there are multiple Mardi Gras parades in southeast Louisiana on Saturday. There’s also Rockin 1000 in the Superdome. One-thousand musicians are coming together to play iconic rocks songs. It’s the first time the Rockin 1000 has had a performance in the U-S. Kelly Schulz is a spokesperson for New Orleans and Company…

Some people in northeast Louisiana may have to wait a couple more days to get power restored. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The state health department has confirmed a ninth death as a result of the winter storm. The DeSoto Parish coroner says a 74-year-old man died at his home following an extended power outage. Four of the nine winter-storm related deaths were residents of DeSoto Parish.

Many movers and shakers from Louisiana are in the nation’s capital for D-C Mardi Gras. It is one of the largest political networking events of the year. Lapolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says with this year being an election year, the candidates running for U.S. Senate and the now-open fifth congressional district seat will use this event to secure campaign donations.

Cut 12 (11) “…in touch with.”

Many believe we are heading for another federal government shutdown – at least a partial one. Senate Democrats appear unwilling to fund Homeland Security. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says even if there is a partial government shutdown, don’t expect the ICE and Border Patrol raids to end at least for the time being – Homeland Security has enough money to keep them going for now.

Cut 5 (08) “…tremendous immediate impact.”

Entergy is reporting nearly 50-thousand people are still without power and customers in parishes like Union, Ouachita, East Carroll, Morehouse and West Carroll may have to wait until Saturday before the power is restored. Entergy’s vice president of customer service, Nyka Scott says they have opened information centers to help customers who are dealing with a prolonged outage. She says these are places where customers can charge devices and access assistance.

Cut 8 (12) “…their areas.”

A 73-year-old woman was stabbed to death in her apartment in Bastrop and a 17-year-old has been charged in her murder. Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Chief Deputy James Mardis says they do not know why Amier Dolwes killed Ruby Lee Peterson. The two lived in the same apartment complex…

Cut 11 (06) “…knew him yes”

Louisiana had a net population gain last year. The U.S. Census Bureau says between July 1st, 2024, and June 30th, 2025, Louisiana added about 33-hundred people to its population total. Demographer Greg Rigamer says that net increase still does not get Louisiana’s population back to the level at the beginning of the decade.

Cut 21 (09) “…40-thousand people.”

Rigamer says that growth pales to the population gains seen in neighboring states like Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

We could see a partial federal government shutdown if the Senate does not pass a House approved funding package. Democrats saying they’ll pass the budgets for the other five departments, but they want to pull Homeland Security from the package, tying its funding approval to Republicans agreeing to a series of conditions, including ending roving patrols and establishing a universal code of conduct. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says whereas Republicans might not have previously acquiesced to those demands, this time they might.

Cut 4 (11) “…in this case.”

Some people in northeast Louisiana have been waiting a long time to get their power restored. Now, Entergy says they may have to wait a little longer. It says it may be as late as Saturday before it can restore power to everyone. Nyka (NIGH-kah) Scott, the vice president of customer service for Entergy, says that’s because the task was a lot more daunting than originally anticipated.

Cut 6 (09) “…than we thought.”

Entergy has opened information centers to help customers who are dealing with a prolonged outage. These are places where customers can charge devices and access assistance.

A teenage boy is arrested in connection with the killing of an elderly woman inside her Morehouse Parish apartment. On Tuesday evening, 73-year-old Ruby Lee Peterson was found stabbed to death inside her apartment in Bastrop. Chief Deputy James Mardis with the Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office says the following day, deputies arrested 17-year-old Amir Dowles.

Cut 9 (06)  “…with the investigation.”

The clock is ticking towards another partial government shutdown. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to police records, the Teacher of the Year at Broussard Middle School has been arrested on child sex abuse charges. Thirty-seven-year-old Christi Oster has been charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Lafayette Police say Oster had an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

It’s a huge political networking event and D-C Mardi Gras is happening this week in our nation’s capital. Events are underway all this week with a dinner dance on Friday and a Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday. But LaPolitics publisher and editor Jeremy Alford says amid all the parties and pageantry, there are big issues and storylines.

Cut 11 (09) “…cycle as well.”

Could we be headed for another government shutdown? That could happen – more specifically a partial shutdown – if the Senate fails to give its approval to a House-passed funding package by midnight tomorrow night. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the six pending bills were cruising towards passage – but then, something happened last weekend.

Cut 3 (08) “…that want changes.”

Louisiana trails other Southern states in internships and apprenticeships for high school students. That’s why the Leaders for a Better Louisiana are alerting businesses about a new state tax credit employers can take advantage of if they hire interns or have an apprenticeship program. Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin…

Cut 30 (09)“…them do that.”

A really cool event happens in the Superdome on Saturday night as one-thousand musicians both amateur and professional will gather to play iconic rock songs. It started in Italy in 2015 and Saturday night in the Dome will be their first ever U-S performance. I told you, many of the musicians are amateurs, including ten-year-old George Schafer of Covington…

Cut 15 (05) “….they were 10”

Schafer say she’s been playing the guitar since he’s five years old.

Louisiana had a net population gain last year. The U.S. Census Bureau says between July 1st, 2024, and June 30th, 2025, Louisiana added about 33-hundred people to its population. But demographer Greg Rigamer says that growth pales to the population gains seen in neighboring states like Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

Cut 8 (08) “…to a place.”

Louisiana had the seventh worst-population growth in the nation in 2025 according to the latest Census data.

A new state tax credit available to businesses is designed to encourage employers to hire interns and have apprenticeships. Leaders for a Better Louisiana CEO Barry Erwin says employers must employ the individual for at least 100 hours in the tax year to qualify….

Cut 6 (11) “….dollars a year”

D-C Mardi Gras festivities pick up today in the nation’s capital. It’s one of the largest political networking events of the year. Lapolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says with this year being an election year, the candidates running for U.S. Senate and the now-open fifth congressional district seat will use this event to secure campaign donations.

Cut 12 (11) “…in touch with.”

The first ever U-S Rockin 1000 concert will take place at the Caesars Superdome on Saturday. It features one-thousand musicians playing iconic rock anthems and there will be musicians from Louisiana involved, including 70-year-old drummer Andy Chetta of Covington…

Cut 13 (06) “…couldn’t pass up”

The musicians begin rehearsals today and the concert is Saturday night.