After 16 years, Sean Payton steps away as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. David Grubb has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Big news from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Mobile sports wagering will go live in Louisiana on Friday at 8 AM, except in the nine parishes that voted against it. Online sports gambling is expected to generate millions of dollars in tax revenues for the state and it becomes a reality before the NFC and AFC championship games.

The Edwards administration is proposing to use 550-million dollars to replenish the Unemployment Trust Fund that was depleted as a result of the pandemic and four major disasters. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the trust fund must be maintained at 750-million dollars or a tax increase on businesses who pay into the fund goes into effect automatically, plus the fund needs money in case there’s another disaster…
cut 6 (14) “…wipe out the trust fund”

Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards have launched a new campaign to stop human trafficking. Donna Edwards says the awareness campaign will launch in April during the NCAA men’s Final Four Basketball Tournament…
cut 8 (11) “….no to traffkikcing”
Resources to help identify and report cases of human trafficking are available at stop-trafficking-la-dot-com.

It’s a sad day for Who Dat Nation as the Saints winningest coach Sean Payton is no longer leading the Black and Gold. Payton has announced he’s stepping away even though there are still three years left on his contract. Payton says he’ll miss the Saints fans and the energy they brought on game days…
cut 12 (05) “…is unbelieveable”
Payton says he could coach again one day, but right now he wants to do something else and could find a job as a TV analyst.

Governor John Bel Edwards has proposed spending 550-million dollars in surplus money on replenishing the Unemployment Trust Fund. The fund once had over a billion dollars in it, but when the pandemic came it was drained to pay over 700-thousand Louisianians who filed for unemployment. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says the fund needs to have at least 750-million dollars in it and if it doesn’t…
cut 5 (09) “….weekly benefits”

First Lady Donna Edwards and the Governor’s Office on Human Trafficking Prevention launch their awareness campaign and website. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Three Lake Charles residents were killed in a car crash in Costa Rica. News reports from the Central American country say 58-year-old Roland Terrell and his wife Terri, along with 50-year-old Racheal Abadie died when their vehicle was hit by another one as they were trying to make a U-Turn. The Terrell’s owned Terrell and Associates in Lake Charles.

Sean Payton is no longer the head coach of the Saints. It’s strange to say after leading the Black and Gold for 15 seasons. Payton led the Saints to their only Super Bowl championship in the 2009 season, but he’ll never forget his first team that came out of nowhere in 2006 and went to the NFC Championship game…
cut 11 (12) “….that 06 team” (2x)
The 58-year-old Payton has yet to decide what he’ll do next.

Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards have launched a new campaign to stop human trafficking. Donna Edwards says the awareness campaign will launch in April during the NCAA men’s Final Four Basketball Tournament…
cut 8 (11) “….no to traffkikcing”
Resources to help identify and report cases of human trafficking are available at stop-trafficking-la-dot-com.

State lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee met Tuesday to discuss Governor Edwards’ proposal for spending surplus dollars on a new Mississippi River Bridge at Baton Rouge. Part of the governor’s plan is to set aside a half-billion dollars for the project, but Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White feels pressure to spend that money on more immediate needs…:
Cut 13 (06) “…in excess.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder released a statement expressing support for 500-million being set aside to build a new I-10 Mississippi River Bridge.

Governor Edwards is also proposing using over half a billion dollars in surplus money to help replenish the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund that was drained to pay unemployment claims during the first few months of the pandemic. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the fund protects workers and businesses.
Cut 4 (12) “…entitled to.”
So far there’s been no push back by lawmakers to use 550-million dollars to replenish the unemployment trust fund.

After 16 years, Sean Payton steps away as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. David Grubb has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Tiger Rag Magazine reports Sharon Lewis, LSU’s associate athletic director of football recruiting and alumni relations, is no longer employed at LSU. She filed a 50-million dollar lawsuit against the university in April alleging a hostile work environment and claiming co-workers retaliated against her after reporting that female student workers were sexually harassed by former LSU coach Les Miles. Lewis attorneys call the firing a wrongful termination, while LSU is not commenting.

There are some state lawmakers who question the governor’s proposal to use 500-million in surplus dollars on a new I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. That’s because construction is several years away and engineers have yet to map out where the bridge will go. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says getting that bridge built should be a top priority, even if the money lies in reserve for a few years:
Cut 15 (12) “…of the United States.”

First Lady Donna Edwards announces a new human trafficking public awareness campaign and resource center. Edwards says the campaign received input from human trafficking survivors and is entitled Stop Trafficking LA: Human Trafficking is Real R-E-A-L.
Cut 7 (12) “…supporting victims.”
The awareness campaign will launch in April during the men’s NCAA final four basketball tournament in New Orleans.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed budget for the next fiscal year gets introduced to state lawmakers today. It calls for a teacher pay raise of 15-hundred dollars, plus 32-million dollars for higher education faculty pay raises and a 43-million dollar increase in early childhood education.

The spending plan also includes one-point-one billion dollars for infrastructure improvements and the governor says that includes 500-million for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, 100-million for I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, and 100-million for the I-49 Lafayette connector…
cut 30 (14) “…of those”
The governor’s budget proposal also calls for 500-million dollars for water and sewer improvements statewide. The budget will be discussed by lawmakers for the next three months.

We’ve heard the term shedding the virus when it relates to COVID and now there are reports of people shedding their hair two months later. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State police are prepping for their first-ever accelerated cadet academy. Sergeant Monroe Dillion says the accelerated academy is only open for police officers who are POST certified.
Cut 14 (11) “…accelerated academy.”
Applications can be found on L-S-P’s website.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ budget proposal calls for teachers to receive a 15-hundred dollar pay raise and the spending plan also has money to fund new bridges in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. Edwards says if additional state surplus revenues are projected, he hopes lawmakers will give teachers a raise even higher than 15-hundred dollars…
cut 5 (09) “…another 500 dollars”
The Governor’s budget contains one-point-one billion dollars for roads and bridges too. Including 500-million for a third Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says that money will augment a public-private partnership for the construction of a new bridge…:
Cut 6 (15) “…over those four years.”

The future of Saints head coach Sean Payton remains a hot topic. David Grubb has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m David Grubb.”

State Police is preparing to begin training its 101st cadet class. Sergeant Monroe Dillon says it will be a 14-week accelerated academy as opposed to the 24-week class. Dillon says applicants must be certified law enforcement officers and the application deadline for the class of up to 60 cadets is approaching…
cut 16 (05) “…out today”
You can apply on the State Police’s website.

Governor John Bel Edwards has unveiled his proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st, with a major focus on teacher pay and the state’s infrastructure needs. Edwards says improving education in Louisiana will help correct a lot of problems, and the best place to start is with teacher pay raises…:
Cut 4 (10) “…for support staff.”
The governor’s budget proposal also includes one-point-one billion dollars in funding for critical infrastructure, including new I-10 bridges in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles.

A side effect of COVID that physicians say they are beginning to see in more patients is hair loss. LSU Health New Orleans Dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Grieshaber says high stressors on the body like childbirth and COVID can cause temporary hair loss.
Cut 8 (11) “…precipitating event.”
If you are experiencing significant hair loss, Grieshaber recommends visiting a dermatologist so they can rule out other causes like thyroid disease or anemia.

We are getting closer to the heart of the Carnival season. Ochsner Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says their data suggests that the Omicron surge was reached nearly two weeks ago in New Orleans and other parts of the state have also peaked, and with Mardi Gras still more than a month away, time is on our side.
Cut 11 (09) “…within the population.”
The Louisiana Health Department reported 2,304 people in hospital with COVID as of Monday. That’s a decrease of 177 from Friday.

State Police says its 101st Cadet class will be for the first time a 14-week accelerated academy for current police officers who are already POST certified men and women. LSP Sargent Monroe Dillon says a typical cadet class can last up to 24 weeks. Dillon says they are hoping to have more officers trained and, on the job, sooner with the accelerated academy.
Cut 15 (08) “…boots on the ground.”
The 101st cadet class is expected to start in June, but the deadline to apply is March 1st.