State transportation officials say 2021 set a new record-high for highway fatalities. Nearly a thousand people died on state roadways last year; topping the previous record of 993, set in 2007. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says the 2021 total of 997 fatalities is up 20-percent over last year
Cut 4 (09) “…is just unacceptable.”
Wilson blames the rise in traffic fatalities to an increase in distracted driving.

A cold and windy day is in store for Louisiana today as a result of a powerful cold front that’s still making its way through southeast Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says portions of southeast Louisiana are under a winter weather advisory from six PM tonight to noon on Friday…
cut 7 (09) “….wintery precipitation”
Keim says the freezing rain will not be significant, as we could see just a light glaze, generally a trace to a few hundredths of an inch.

During his Ask the Governor Show, John Bel Edwards said U-S Senate candidate Gary Chambers campaign ad shows him smoking marijuana is not something people should reward him for. Meanwhile, Edwards spoke highly of the other Democratic challenger to John Kennedy. The governor nearly gave an official endorsement to Luke Mixon…
cut 12 (08) “….a little later”
The primary will be held on November 8th and the general election on December 10th.

Much of the COVID vaccine hesitancy involves adults who are looking to have children. But Shreveport OBGYN Doctor Leonard Weather Junior says it’s extremely important for pregnant women to be vaccinated and boosted and even women who are trying to get pregnant.
Cut 14 (12) “…premature deliveries.”

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on all Louisianans to help beautify the state. Tuesday the Governor announced the creation of his Task Force on Statewide Litter Abatement and Beautification but says it will take all of us to make a difference…
Cut 4 (05) “…to play.”
The 26 member Task Force will give recommendations to the governor by July first on how to have a cleaner state.

Yesterday was the first-day state lawmakers could file bills for a three-month-long legislative session that will begin in March. One of the first bills filed was by Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis that would set limits on homeowners associations’ authority. Hollis says he doesn’t think any HOA regulations should get in the way of property owners protecting what they own…
cut 8 (11) “…are constitutional rights”

Today will be pleasant, but a strong cold front is on its way, which will drop our temperatures significantly. Much of the state is under a slight risk for severe weather today and then Thursday night into Friday morning, State Climatologist Barry Keim says a wintry mix is possible for the Bayou State…
cut 12 (10) “…through Alexandria”

Americans can now have four at-home COVID tests shipped to their household for free by providing their name and shipping address at COVIDtests-dot-gov. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Doctor Lucio Miele says you should only use a home test if you have symptoms and advises if you test negative to retest again in a few days because the rapid test has a high false-negative rate.
Cut 14 (07) “…on these tests.”
The website is COVID-tests-dot-gov.

Another blast of cold winter weather is coming our way. Is there snow, sleet or freezing rain in our future? Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Officials say four people were killed in an overnight house fire in Slidell. Very few details are known at this time.

St. Martinvile Police have made an arrest after a burnt human body and a dog were discovered by officers in the debris of a burned building. The suspect has been identified as Randal Romero and he’s been booked into the St. Martin Parish Jail.

Americans are able to order four free at-home COVID tests by providing their name and shipping address at COVIDtests-dot-gov. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Doctor Lucio Miele says better access to home tests is vital…
cut 13 (08) “…limited worldwide”
Miele says you should only use a home test if you have symptoms and advises if you test negative to retest again in a few days because the rapid test has a high false-negative rate.

We’ve all heard of or even experienced a situation in which a homeowners association enforces its rules with one resident and not another leaving the homeowner with few options. Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis has filed legislation for the upcoming session that would limit an HOA’s authority….
Cut 7 (11) “…very important.”
Hollis found himself in a situation with his HOA that prevented him from erecting a fence to protect his children from a neighbor’s webcam.

St. Tammany Firefighters say four people were killed in an overnight house fire in Slidell’s Eden Isles subdivision. The fire was first reported around 1:30 in the morning and extinguished around 6 AM. An investigation into a cause is underway.

One of the first bills filed for the 2022 regular session is one pertaining to homeowners’ associations. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It will be warm today, but a big change is coming as a strong cold front will begin to move through the state tonight, dropping our temperatures significantly…
cut 11 (10) “…pretty chilly day”
Keim says there’s a chance for freezing rain Thursday into Friday morning for south Louisiana.

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced a task force on statewide litter abatement and beautification. Edwards says the 26-member task force will make recommendations to the governor by July of this year, but he says Louisiana residents also have the power to reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in waterways, storm drains, and streets…
cut 5 (13) “…call home”

Get ready for another blast of cold, wintery weather. State Climatologist Barry Keim says today starts off mild, with sunshine and temperatures reaching into the 60’s and lower 70’s, but then…:
Cut 10 (12) “…at least a possibility.”
And the National Weather Service says a wintry mix is possible Thursday night to Friday morning for south Louisiana.

Americans can request four free at-home COVID-19 tests through the website COVIDtests-dot-gov. The White House says the tests will typically ship within seven to 12 days through the U-S Postal Service. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Doctor Lucio Miele says you should not test for the sake of testing…
cut 15 (08) “….is critical”

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana has reached a sobering milestone as the state health department reports one-million COVID cases since the pandemic started. Over 15-thousand Louisianians have died from the illness.

On another front, the governor wants to give litter the boot…
cut 1 (30) “….I’m David Grubb”

And today at 2:00 the governor takes your questions with his monthly Ask the Governor call-in show. You can hear it at louisianaradionetwork.com

The start of the 2022 regular legislative session is still two months away, but today lawmakers can begin filing bills to be heard in the three-month-long session. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says some of the controversial bills that failed to pass last year, will be back this year
Cut 4 (10) “…vaccine mandates.”

58 parishes have applied for grants to bring broadband internet to their areas. Large portions of Louisiana are underserved when it comes to Internet access and connection speeds. Avoyelles Representative Daryl Deshotel was an architect of the so-called GUMBO Fund grants…:
Cut 7 (12) “…round of applications.”
Deshotel award amounts will be announced in March.

U-S Senate Democratic candidate Gary Chambers, who is one of two announced challengers to Republican John Kennedy, launched a campaign ad today that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization.

A beloved Louisiana staple is adding another Cajun classic to its array of products. Brooke Thorington has the ingredients.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State lawmakers can begin filing bills for the 2022 regular session starting today. Kevin Gallagher on the bills that will come up for debate when the three-month-long session begins in March…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press conference in Baton Rouge this afternoon to kick off his statewide Litter Abatement and Beautification Task Force. He’ll be joined by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. They will hold the press conference near Ward’s Creek, where a lot of trash has gathered.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy reports his re-election campaign has raised 18-million dollars and he has about $11-million in cash-on-hand. U-L-M political science professor Joshua Stockley says that is considerably more than Kennedy raised for his campaign in 2016…:
Cut 13 (11) “…have that in 2022.”
So far there are only two announced candidates, political newcomer Luke Mixon and community activist Gary Chambers who is pushing to decriminalize marijuana possession in a new TV commercial.

Avoyelles Representative Dary Deshotel says 58 parishes have applied for funds to expand broadband in their areas. Deshotel says it’s a 90-million dollar program, but there are other ways the available funds could grow…
cut 8 (14) “….in Louisiana”
Deshotel says awards will be announced in March.