The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a closed party primary bill supported by Governor Jeff Landry. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson’s proposal would shift, federal, statewide and certain judicial elections from a jungle primary system to a closed party primary. New Orleans Democrat Candace Newell says this is a big change and legislators should not rush this…
Cut 7 (12) “…dedicate to it”
Opponents also raised concerns that Independents will be disenfranchised because they can’t vote in the primaries. But Emerson says that’s not accurate…
Cut 8 (12) “…party.”
The proposal passed on an 11-to-4 vote and heads to the House floor.

The Saints have fired offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Carmichael was the offensive coordinator for the last 15 seasons and he’s been with the franchise for 18 years. After missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season, change felt inevitable according to the host of the Locked On Saints podcast Ross Jackson.
Cut 4 (12) “.. offensive system”

Louisiana Tech’s Athletic Director is heading to Ole Miss. After serving the university for three years marked by some major challenges, Dr. Eric Wood will become a Senior Deputy AD at Ole Miss. Tech President Dr. Jim Henderson says Wood will be missed
Cut 15 (11) “…in the classroom”
A search for a new A-D at Tech is underway.

Numerous roads are closed as a result of a winter storm that has iced up bridges, ramps and overpasses. Because elevated roads and bridges ice over first, DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says theircrews in conjunction with State Police worked throughout the day and overnight…
Cut 4 (10) “…US-51.”
One of the roadways shut down is the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.

State offices are closed today but state lawmakers are at the capitol working on approving a new Congressional map that would contain two majority-Black districts, instead of one. Governor Jeff Landry is also calling for legislators to approve a new Supreme Court map…
cut 16 (12) “…unbalanced.”

Windy and colder weather continues to grip Louisiana. Bill Jacquemin has the latest on the weather warnings…
cut 2 (35) “….untreated surfaces”

There are numerous road closures in the Bayou State after an arctic cold front swept across the country Monday creating hazardous conditions. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says even though crews began applying brine and salt to roadways Monday afternoon…
Cut 3 (13) “…our drivers.”
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge after a single vehicle wreck led to a massive traffic jam. Westlake Police Chief Chrstopher Wilrye says the driver involved in the single vehicle wreck lost his life after either jumped or fell off the bridge…
cut 9 (12) “…yesterday”
The man who lost his life has been identified as 37-year-old Jordan Foster.

Governor Jeff Landry opened the start of an eight-day special session urging legislators to approve a Congressional District map that adds a second majority minority district. He also wants legislation approved that will shift Louisiana’s elections from a jungle open primary to closed party primaries. He says voters that belong to a political party should have the right to choose their candidate to represent them in the General election
cut 15 (14) “….decipher”
The special session must end by January 23rd.

Three Natchitoches Police officers are recovering from injuries after trying to apprehend 25-year Lakendra Bolton who is accused of stealing from a grocery store…
cut 7 (10) “…the hospital”
Natchitoches Police spokesperson John Greely says Bolton injured the officers with her vehicle.

Very cold morning as temperatures are below freezing with wind chills in the teens into single digits. National Weather Service meteorologist Cameron Kowalski says be prepared for another cold morning tomorrow…
cut 9 (12) “…low as 12”
Single digit lows are expected near the Arkansas border.

Three Natchitoches police officers are recovering from injuries after attempting to arrest 25-year-old Lakendra Bolton who allegedly tried to steal from Super One Foods. Natchitoches police spokesperson John Greely says two of the officers were injured when trying to arrest her in the parking lot…
cut 6 (05) “…ran over them”
Greely says Bolton injured another officer when she rammed a police-vehicle head on which ended the pursuit. The officers injuries are considered serious to minor and Bolton faces several charges including three counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Governor Jeff Landry urges state legislators to pass a Congressional map with two black voting districts and makes the case for closed primaries. …
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Landry says he supports Catahoula Parish Senator Glen Womack’s proposal for a new Congressional District map, which creates a second majority Black district by drastically changing Republican Congressman Garret Graves’ district, stretching it from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Graves says the map ignores redistricting principles.

It’s a cold morning in Louisiana and that brisk wind out of the north is not helping. Cameron Kowalski is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles…
Cut 7 (11) “…mid 30s”
In north Louisiana, temperatures will struggle to get to 30 degrees and for central Louisiana high temperatures will struggle to get to the freezing mark.

It could be a struggle for Governor Jeff Landry to get his proposed closed party primary system for elections approved by legislators in the ongoing special session. But Pollster Bernie Pinsonat just completed a survey that shows 70-percent of respondents said party primaries in the spring and general elections in the fall would give voters more time to know the candidates…
cut 5 (10) “….for months”

Governor Jeff Landry opened the special session yesterday by calling on lawmakers to pass a Congressional map with two majority Black voting districts. Landry says if the state Legislature does not do it before the special session ends on January 23rd, the federal courts will
Cut 13 (12) “..federal judge”

Chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Candace Newell took to the House floor before Landry spoke and said she’s received assurances from the governor and Republican Legislative leadership that they will pass a map with two voting Black districts
Cut 14 (11) “..what is right”

Wind chills are in the single digits and for north Louisiana, high temperatures will not get above freezing. Meteorologist Cameron Kowalski with the National Weather Service,,,
cut 8 (08) “…freezing mark”
Central and south Louisiana will see high temperatures today in the mid 30s.

Because of the winter precipitation that fell yesterday and early this morning, dozens of elevated roadways and highways are closed. State Police Trooper Ryan Davis says if you run into an issue while traveling, call star LSP…
cut 12 (10) “…their trip”
Hundreds of vehicles were stuck on the I-10 and I-210 bridges in Lake Charles yesterday as a result of a crash and icing. Westlake Police say a 37-year-old Lake Charles man died after he jumped off the bridge.

State offices are closed today but state lawmakers are at the capitol working on approving a new Congressional map that would contain two majority-Black districts, instead of one. Governor Jeff Landry is also calling for legislators to approve a new supreme court map…
cut 16 (16) “…as another one”
There’s a proposal to increase the number of justices from seven to nine.

Also up for debate in this special session is a proposal to change Louisiana’s open jungle primary to a closed primary system. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat just conducted a statewide survey and found support for closed primaries, but it’s not overwhelming…
cut 6 (10) “…the other”
Project Louisiana Values funded the poll.

The winter precipitation has moved out of Louisiana but several elevated roadways remain iced over….
cut 2 (29) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

I-10 between St. Martin Parish and Baton Rouge, including the Atchafalya Basin Bridge is shut down. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 27 (08) “…ice over”
No timeline on when these iced over roads will re-open.

Governor Jeff Landry opened the special session by calling on lawmakers to pass a Congressional map with two majority Black voting districts. Landry says if the state Legislature does not do it before the special session ends on January 23rd, the federal courts will
Cut 13 (12) “..federal judge”
Landry also wants lawmakers to pass legislation that would shift Louisiana from the jungle primary system to closed party primaries. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat conducted a poll last week and found a majority of the 600 respondents approve of several features of a closed party primary…
cut 4 (12) “….revealing”

Governor Jeff Landry opened the start of a eight-day special session urging legislators to approve a Congressional District map that adds a second majority minority district. He also wants legislation approved that will shift Louisiana’s elections from a jungle open primary to closed party primaries. He says voters that belong to a political party should have the right to choose their candidate to represent them in the General election
cut 15 (14) “….decipher”
The special session must end by January 23rd.

We are in the middle of a deep freeze in Louisiana. Cold temperatures and winter precipitation has led to….
cut 10 (03) “….roads and bridges”
That’s State Trooper Ryan Davis who says numerous bridges, on-ramps, and elevated highways are closed this morning.

Temperatures are in the teens and wind chills are in the single digits on this frosty morning. Colleen Crain reports the extreme cold will last until tomorrow morning…
cut 1 (30) “..I”m Colleen Crain”

And this winter weather has produced power outages. Entergy says 11-thousand customers are without power and many of those outages are in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas. Cleco has over 500 customers without power and SWEPCO has over 300 customers without power in the Shreveport area.