More than a century ago an 18-year-old girl from New Orleans led the charge to have women included in Mardi Gras parades. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (28)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Acadia & St. Landry Parish is reviving up to let the good times roll tomorrow- Eunice style. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Seen on viral video: New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell flipping “the bird” at Mardi Gras parade riders. Kevin Gallagher looks at possible political fallout…:

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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When Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser talks about how Mardi Gras is such a unique tradition in Louisiana, you could say it’s in his DNA because it is. 106 years ago, his great aunt Aminthe (ah-men-eth) Nungesser led the initiative for women to have the right to march in Mardi Gras.

Cut 4 (11)  “…over 3,700.”

At the time the Krewe of Iris was the only women’s Mardi Gras parade but she inspired others and as they say, the rest is history.

Cut 5 (06) “…as men.”

And a century later it’s her great-nephew who’s at the helm of promoting state tourism and one of Louisiana’s most beloved events, Mardi Gras.

Cut 6 (08)  “…those throws.” 

Aminthe Nungesser was only 18 years old when she began advocating for women to participate in Mardi Gras. In addition to the Krewe of Iris, she also captained the Krewe of Venus.

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Mardi Gras in the City of Eunice is not your typical idea of Mardi Gras. Instead of beads and doubloons, revelers chase chickens in colorful costumes. City of Eunice Events Coordinator, Courtney Elkins says Courir de Mardi Gras & Chicken Run is not your average Mardi Gras.

Cut 7 (09) “…body suits.”

Mardi Gras is a family-friendly event. Elkins says chasing the chickens has been a tradition everyone loves to participate in.

Cut 8 (10)  “…Cajun way.”

The Courir de Mardi Gras is Eunice’s largest community event of the year. It dates back to the late 19th century and attendance continues to grow each year.

Cut 9 (11)  “…this weekend.”

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New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is under fire again; this time for a video showing her making an obscene gesture at some float riders. The video, taken Saturday during the Krewe of Tucks parade, shows Cantrell shouting “I love you” to the float, then giving the “the finger.” New Orleans political analyst Clancy Dubos says Tucks floats are often satirical, and this one did rib the mayor, but he says in politics, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen”…:

Cut 10 (10)  “…Mardi Gras parade.”

Cantrell has taken heat lately for lavish travel upgrades at public expense, being allegedly ‘soft on crime” and for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a police officer. Dubos feels the mayor’s digital display during the Tucks parade does nothing to help bolster her sinking approval with taxpayers, and was beneath her position…:

Cut 11 (06)  “…to the office.”

The Mayor’s office released a statement saying the incident was “all in good fun”, but Dubos says her taste and timing are bad as petitioners to recall Cantrell announce they have the 49-thousand signatures needed to get an election. They’ll hand those in tomorrow. Dubos says Cantrell’s behavior is exactly what not to do when a recall is afoot…:

Cut 12 (13) “…sign the petition.”

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Today will be another warm and partly cloudy Mardi Gras. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the weather should be terrific for enjoying parades but wear a sweater if you’re heading out early…:

Cut 13 (11)  “…or low 80’s.”

Keim says warm air coming in off the Gulf of Mexico will make for ideal weather for Fat Tuesday – with temperatures ranging up into the low-to-mid 80s today, but you may find it a bit humid…:

Cut 14 (11)  “…in New Orleans.”

Keim says the warm front coming in for Mardi Gras will remain with us for a few days…:

Cut 15 (08)  “…or mid-80’s.”

Keim says warmer, spring-like weather may stay with us well into next week.

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Top-ranked LSU baseball takes on Southern University this afternoon and second baseman Gavin Dugas is off to a great start. In two games in the sweep over Western Michigan, Dugas was six for eight at the plate and hit two home runs. Dugas says swinging at a bad pitch in the fall led to an eye doctor determining he was nearly blind in his left eye which led to surgery…

Cut  16 (19)  “…fits properly.” 

Dugas could be a big-time cog in an offense that’s expected to be potent.  He’s expecting big things from LSU’s offense…

Cut 17 (18) “…gonna do.” 

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One person is dead and four others injured after gunfire erupts on St. Charles Avenue during the Bacchus Parade in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A 17-year-old from Marshall, Texas was killed by gunfire along the route of the Shreveport Krewe of Gemini Parade. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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One person was killed and four others wounded in a shooting along the Bacchus parade route in uptown New Orleans last night. Gunfire rang out at around 9:30 PM and witnesses say everyone near the scene took cover to avoid getting hit by bullets. NOPD Deputy Chief Hans Ganthier (GAHN-the-a)….

Cut 3 (08) “…that end” 

Authorities say the person who was fatally shot is a male between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. The four victims treated and released ranged in age from a four-year-old girl to 24-year-old female.

N-O-P-D Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says a suspected shooter, a 21-year-old male, has been arrested….

Cut  4 (11)  “…from the scene” 

The person arrested is Mansour Mbodj.

Woodfork says they are conducting ballistic testing to see if he was the shooter or were there multiple gunmen. She says they are also trying to determine if he was the sole shooter and they do not know what sparked the shooting…

Cut 5 (09) “…out there”

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A head-on crash in Terrebonne Parish kills two and seriously injures two others. Trooper Ross Brennan says that shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday on Highway 57 near Dulac, Craig and Cookie Boudreaux were traveling south in a Silverado and a Mitsubishi driven by 60-year-old Jorge Hernandez was traveling north.

Cut 6 (13)  “…at the scene.” 

Hernandez and his passenger were taken to a New Orleans area hospital for treatment. Brennan says toxicology samples were collected from both drivers. As for Hernandez’s intended destination…

Cut 7 (07)  “…this moment.” 

All involved were residents of Houma. (50-year-old Craig Boudreaux and 49-year-old Cookie Boudreaux)

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In St. Martin Parish a single-vehicle crash killed two Breaux Bridge residents. Trooper Thomas Gossen says that shortly after 1 p.m. they were notified of the crash on State Highway 328 Sunday. He says the driver 41-year-old Christopher Thibodeaux and his 16-year-old nephew Carter Potts were both killed.

Cut 8 (08)  “…overturn.” 

Gossen says Thibodeaux not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. Carter however was restrained. Gossen says it’s unknown whether Thibodeaux being unrestrained caused injury to Carter.

Cut 9 (09) “…is restrained.”

A toxicology sample was taken from the driver and the crash remains under investigation.

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State Wildlife & Fisheries agents arrest a man they say illegally caught and sold over $350-thousand in Louisiana oysters. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck (“EYE-kn”) says it started last November, with 23-year-old Luis Garcia being stopped by agents on Lake Borgne for a routine license check…:

Cut 10 (06) “…for Louisiana.” 

That led to an investigation that uncovered Garcia’s entire 2022 catch was taken illegally. Einck says it was a good season for Garcia, too…:

Cut 11 (07)  “…354-thousand dollars.”

Einck says this was not a case of an expired oyster fisherman’s license. Garcia has never held a Louisiana license, he is not a legal resident of Louisiana or the U.S. and was operating completely rogue. What of the oysters he sold? Einck says none of Garcia’s customers are being charged, at this time…:

Cut 12 (08) “…still under investigation.”

Garcia’s 2022 haul was 5915 sacks of oysters, valued at just over $354-thousand. If convicted, Garcia could get 90 days in jail, and a $500 fine, but he could also be subject to civil restitution for the replacement value of the illegally sold oysters.

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office says the fire that destroyed the New Friendship Baptist Church in Grant Parish Thursday is not suspicious. SFMO spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says investigators have determined the blaze began in a mechanical room and they are trying to determine if it was electrical or weather-related.

Cut 13 (09) “…it is not.” 

No one was injured in the fire and Rodrigue says the more than 70-year-old building in Pollock was a complete loss. She says when the 911 call came in it was early enough that the local fire department was able to respond when the blaze was contained to one part of the building.

Cut 14 (06)   “… the majority of the building.”

A worship service was held on the church grounds under a tent Sunday, and members reportedly plan to rebuild.