Potential 2023 Gubernatorial Race contenders Attorney General Jeff Landry and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser are off to strong fundraising starts, Landry with two million dollars and Nungesser with a million in a half. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the two Republicans are early favorites.

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Democratic Governor Edwards will be term-limited.

Baton Rouge native, 29-year-old Hayley Arceneaux is set to become the first cancer survivor to ever get launched into space. She’ll be the chief medical officer aboard Inpiration4, the first all-civilian mission. Arceneaux, a spokesperson for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, calls it an inspirational moment for St. Jude’s kids.

Cut 13 (09) “…stars.”

Last week’s storm has many residents working in their yards removing damaged plants. But you might be adding insult to injury. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

President Joe Biden announces the feds will be covering a larger portion of the Hurricane Laura public assistance bill than was previously agreed. The portion of non-federal costs such as repair of public buildings, roads, and other infrastructure items will now be reimbursed at 90 percent, up from 75 percent.

A fatal shootout at a Gretna gun store over the weekend has shocked Jefferson Parish. The shooting spree by 27-year-old Jamal Williams began after Williams was asked to take his loaded gun out of the gun store and clear it, a common gun shop protocol. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says contrary to some reports there was no heated argument that preceded Williams beginning his spree and witnesses report he was not confrontational prior to the incident.

Cut 12 (03) “ …happened” 

The only people involved in the shootout were seven store employees and Williams. No other bystanders fired a weapon.

It appears the brutal winter storm we just endured killed about a third of the state’s strawberry crop. Owner of Harris Farmers in Springfield, Trey Harris says it’s worse than the great December freeze back in 2017…

Cut 7 (10) “…coming in”

If you sustained winter storm damage the state would like you to fill out a form on damage-dot-la-dot-gov. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Spokesperson Mike Steele says that reporting the damage will also help state officials determine where the most damage occurred.

Cut 4 (10) “…assistance may be available.” 

A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot Sunday morning by a truck driver after allegedly attempting to break into his 18-wheeler. Bienville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney of Ringgold kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby semi…

Cut 9 (12) “…window out”

Drug use is suspected but not confirmed as a possible motive.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has released new details about a fatal shootout over the weekend at a Gretna gun store. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says 27-year-old Joshua Williams was asked by store employees to leave the store to unload a loaded gun he had brought. Video shows moments later, as Williams was standing in the store’s doorway seemingly about to leave he fires a shot out across the street, then fatally shoots his first victim.

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Contrary to previous reports no customers were involved in the shootout.

If you suffered winter storm damage then the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness wants to hear from you. GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says filling out out a survey at damage.la.gov could help us win federal aid…

Cut 5  (11)  “…benefit us” 

Louisiana Strawberry farmers are pulling up tarps and surveying damage from last week’s winter storms. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The state’s winter-storm related low COVID reporting totals continued today with only 468 new reported cases. But the state’s daily death totals continue to remain low with only 11 new COVID related fatalities today, down from daily averages in the 40s last month. COVID hospitalizations also continue to decline, now down to 740.

K-12 teachers and those 55 and older with certain medical conditions will be added to the list of eligable vaccine receipients Monday. That’s nearly a half million more eligable state residents but Governor Edwards thinks we have the supply now to start opening things up…
Cut 6 (14) “…this week.”
Over a half million Louisianans have been vaccinated so far.
AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman warns Louisianans to fill up their gas tanks now because we could be experiencing low gas supply due to the winter storms.
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He says those storms are resulting in increase fuel costs for drivers. A gallon of regular is up to 2.28 a gallon for a statewide average. That’s a three cent overnight jump and a fifteen cent jump month to month.
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roads across north Louisiana are still impassable and State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they likely won’t be clear to drive on until the sun comes out and temperatures rise Saturday afternoon.
Cut 12 (12) “ …in the morning”
Wilson says DOTD also used three and a half million pounds of salt and thousands of gallons of brine in an effort to keep interstates from becoming too slippery.
Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says once the winter weather has passed the PSC will investigate what went wrong. Greene says we just didn’t have the emergency capacity to keep everyone’s lights on during this historic week of winter weather.
Cut 9 (12) “…affordability”

Nearly half a million more Louisianans will be eligible to get vaccinated starting Monday, that includes K-12 teachers and those 55 and older with certain health conditions. Governor Edwards says this decision was made after the state was told we’re getting a big bump in our vaccine allocation.

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540,000 Louisianans have now received atleast one dose of their two dose vaccine series.

The winter weather is driving up the price of a gallon of regular in Louisiana, now up to 2.28 on average. Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says we’re up three cents over yesterday and 15 cents on the month, the kinds of spikes you ususally only see around hurricanes.

Cut 3 (10) “…screeching halt”

Redman also warns the winter conditions could delay gas shipments, so tank up while you can.
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Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says once the winter weather has passed the PSC will investigate what went wrong and why power providers had such poor communication with customers. Greene says they won’t have immediate answers to what went wrong, but they will conduct a thorough investigation.

Cut 11 (09) “…mistakes.”

Governor Edwards has requested everyone limit energy consumption from 7PM to 10 PM tonight and 7 AM to 9 AM tomorrow to help reduce the need for rolling blackouts.

It will be until Saturday afternoon before the highways are free of ice in north Louisiana. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they had 14-hundred workers, primarily in north Louisiana before the storm arrived, salting and brining major roads
Cut 13 (06)“…in that”

Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says once the winter weather has passed the PSC will investigate what went wrong. Greene says we just didn’t have the emergency capacity to keep everyone’s lights on during this historic week of winter weather.  

Cut 9 (12) “…affordability” 

The order to initiate rolling blackouts was made by MISO, a super-regional entity in charge of maintaining power reliability.   

Gas jumped three cents last night to 2.28 a gallon for regular as a result of the winter storm and AAA fuel analyst Don Redman warns that you should keep your tank full because there could be a gas shortage for the coming days. 

Cut 5  (10)  “…get it delivered” 

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475-thousand new Louisiana residents will be eligible to get vaccinated Monday and Governor Edwards is asking those newly eligible to be paitent. Brooke Thorington explains. 

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Shreveport could be without water for some time as the winter storm appears to have caused significant damage to the city’s infrastructure. The national guard has had to deploy a number of large water tankers to city hospitals and Willis-Knighton Chief Administrative Officer Brian Crawford says that’s helping them meet basic needs…

Cut 5 (11)“…MRI.”

Lake Charles is also facing serious water pressure issues and Mayor Hunter has formally requested assistance.
Gas prices have increased nearly three cents overnight and 15 cents on the month, now sitting at a statewide average of 2.28 a gallon for regular. Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the winter weather has created the type of spike we would typically see during hurricane season.
Cut 3 (10) “…sscreeching hault”
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Beginning Monday schoolteachers and staff will be eligible to get vaccinated for COVID. Brooke Thorington has more.
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State Police are investing a fatal police shooting in Mount Hermon. The shooting left 28-year-old Dustin Crain dead and occurred just after 10PM last night. Police allege they were responding to a domestic violence incident and when they arrived Crain had armed himself with two large knives and during a confrontation was shot and pronounced dead on the scene.