Governor John Bel Edwards annouces that starting Monday a new wave of residents will become eligable for the vaccine including teachers, additional medical workers, and those 55 and older who have a medical condition that makes them more sussecptible to COVID.

Several roads across North Louisiana are impassable as a result of yesterday’s freezing rain. Jeff Palermo reports several vehicles have slid off the roadway on Interstate 20…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Entergy Louisiana Spokesperson Brandon Scardigli says they hope to have power restored for Baton Rouge customers by the end of the day. In North Louisiana it remains undetermined, that area received freezing rain last night. Scardigli says restoration with an ice storm is much different than a hurricane because ice accumulation involves individual lines and poles that are pulled down by ice and trees.

Cut 7 (12) “…at once”

The winter storm has passed but freezing cold temperatures are here to stay for the next few days. National Weather Service Shreveport forecaster Gary Chatelain says tomorrow morning the I-20 corridor will once again break record lows with temps in the teens.

Cut 12 (09) “ …you know”

A hard freeze warning is in effect from tonight into tomorrow morning as far south as I-10.

Louisiana is still reeling from a double winter storm punch that’s resulted in power outages for tens of thousands of customers, made hundreds of roads impassable, and has shut down water utilities in Shreveport. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says Shreveport is in a tough spot at the moment… 

Cut 6 (09) “…town.” 

City and parish roads have been declared “unpassable” which means they are drivable but dangerous. 

Governor Edwards acknowledged the delays in returning power to much of the state. He says the same roads that are keeping you stuck at home are undrivable for repair crews… 

Cut 13 (12)“…real issues too” 

Cleco, SWEPCO, and Entergy are all asking customers to conserve power tonight.  

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State Police says treacherous road conditions led to 45 people getting stuck on a stretch of Interstate 20 in Bossier and Webster parish for six to eight hours last night. Trooper Brent Hardy says there were multiple crashes but thankfully no serious injuries. It took a lot of effort to get those stuck on the interstate out of there… 

Cut 4 (13) “…stranded.” 

The I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge between Lafayette and Baton Rouge is now open as crews have cleared the ice.  

The State Department of Health has officially confirmed three storm related fatalities. A 50-year-old in Lafayette Parish who slipped and fell, a 74-year-old in Lafayette Parish who died of exposure, and a 77-year-old Caddo man who slipped into his pool and drown. We’re awaiting confirmation on a fourth victim in Shreveport. 

New daily record low temperatures were set this morning across the state, headlined by an absolutely frigid one degree low recorded in Shreveport-Bossier. National Weather Service Shreveport Meteorologist C.S. Ross says the previous record low was 20 degrees for February 16th.
Cut 9 (06) “…years ago.”
Ross says Monroe also set a record low temp this morning at 16 degrees this morning, the previous record was 25 degrees for the day and Lake Charles set a new low with 16 degrees.
Unfortunately, it appears this winter storm is responsible for killing three Louisianans. One occurred in Shreveport and Governor Edwards says two occurred in Lafayette Parish. One was a tragic slip and fall…
Cut 6 (09) “…very tragic.”
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A number of major throughways across the state will remain shuttered tonight. Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge and other elevated portions of I-10 and 12 may take a while to thaw out…
Cut 3 (12) “….open”
Entergy has been directed by the Mid-Continent System Operator to initiate rolling power outages for some customers in southwest Louisiana. Entergy Louisiana Vice President of Distribution Operations John Hawkins says the blackouts are due to this historic winter storm and freeze.
Cut 12 (08) “ …for us.”
Entergy is asking customers to reduce power consumption by lowering thermostats to 68 degrees, open drapes when the sun is shining, don’t allow warm air to leave your home, and delay dish and laundry wash loads until further notice.

Winter storm warnings are in effect for north Louisiana and winter storm watches cover central and southwest Louisiana as the state braces for temperatures to quickly descend below freezing in the coming days. National Weather Service Shreveport Hydrologist C.S. Ross says wintery mix and snow is in play for the northern half of the state starting Sunday night…

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A second winter storm is expected to hit us on Wednesday as well.

Valentine’s Day is Sunday and dining with your sweetheart will be different with the limited capacity, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t show love to your favorite eatery.

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

All eyes are on Senator Bill Cassidy this weekend as the Senate is expected to vote on the impeachment of former President Donald Trump. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled he will vote against impeachment and Cassidy, after voting to approve the trial on constitutional grounds, may be one of a handful of Republicans to vote yes on the question.

Northwest and north-central Louisiana are set to take the brunt of a nasty winter storm that’s descending on the state. Those areas are under winter storm warnings while the rest of the state outside of southeast Louisiana sits under a winter storm watch. National Weather Service Shreveport Hydrologist C.S. Ross says starting late tonight in the northern half of the state expect a light, patchy, freezing drizzle…

23

Governor Edwards has declared a state of emergency ahead of the system.

Restaurants are trying to adapt to yet another Valentine’s Day under pandemic conditions, and this winter storm fiasco isn’t helping things either.  Wendy Waren with the Louisiana Restaurant Association says if you’re not interested in dining in then you can probably find a fun, creative to-go option nearby…

Cut 3 (12)  “…to go”

Behind Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day is the second busiest day of the year traditionally for restaurants.

The Louisiana Family Forum has found the new longest-married couple in the state: a pair out of Gonzales who’ve been married for 80 years. LFF President Gene Mills says there’s a lot to learn from 101-year-old Gail is and 99-year-old Patsy Richardson…

Cut 10 (11) “. ..benefits” 

The polar vortex is descending on Louisiana and most of north Louisiana outside of the Delta Parishes is now under a winter storm warning while the delta parishes, southwest Louisiana, and Central Louisiana are now under Winter Storm Watches. Southeast Louisiana, for now, looks like it may manage to dodge some of the worst of this. With this storm on the way and the northern half of the state set to get a wintery mix late Sunday into Monday Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency. Forecasts show we could be in for another winter storm as early as Wednesday.

Sunday is Valentine’s Day and between the pandemic and the cold, a lot of folks just won’t be going out. Wendy Waren with the Louisiana Restaurant Association asks you to consider order to-go if you’re going to be skipping the usual sit-down meal at a restaurant. She says there are all kinds of fun, romantic to-go choices…

Cut 5  (11)  “…that way.” 

The Louisiana Family Forum has found the new longest-married couple in the state: a pair out of Gonzales who’ve been married for 80 years. LFF President Gene Mills says 101-year-old Gail is a Catholic and 99-year-old Patsy Richardson is Baptist, and both are both highly active in their faith.

Cut 9 (08) “..coexistence”

The competition discovered 18 couples who’ve been married in Louisiana for over 70 years.

Pelican Waste has set up a GoFundMe for the two sanitation workers who spotted a car from an Amber Alert earlier this week in St. Martin Parish and helped rescue a kidnapped 10-year-old. The fund is raising money for Dion Merrick and Brandon Antoine and Pelican spokesperson Monica Camille says they deserve it.

Cut 12 (12) “  acts” 

For the second game in a row, the Pelicans got demolished from deep, losing 143-130 to the Dallas Mavericks. It’s back to back games the Pels have now let a team shoot over 50 percent from three and Dallas superstar Luka Doncic feasted, putting up 46-12-8. History was made it’s the first time four players 25 and under scored 30 or more points in a game as Doncic was joined by Kristaps Porzingis who dropped 36 points while the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram scored 36 and 30 points respectively. The 36 was a career-high for Zion, who only missed one shot.

It’s been 448 days since McNeese has played a competitive game of football but that’s set to change at 6 PM tonight as the Cowboys take on Tarleton State for the first game of spring football. The Lake Charles based team canceled its fall season due to COVID, then watched its school, field, press box, and team meeting rooms get destroyed by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

The Tigers take on the 16^th ranked Volunteers at the PMAC for some SEC action at 1 PM. The two are tied for second in the SEC standings at 7-4.

The Cajuns and Warhawks are at it at 4 PM today for the second game of a doubleheader. ULM upset UL Lafayette in the first contest 72-66 for only their 5^th win on the year.

McNeese is back on the court as well with a game against Northwestern today at 4 PM. Northwestern is 5-4 in conference play while McNeese is struggling at 2-7.

The Southeastern Lions host Nicholls State tonight in Hammond for a 7 PM tip-off. Nicholls is just a game back of a current three way tie for first in the Southland while Southeastern is languishing at 4-5, 6-12 on the season.

In some NFL news it looks like the Seahawks and QB Russell Wilson’s happy marriage could be coming to an end. Seahawks brass are reportedly fuming about Wilson’s public comments questioning the team’s ability to compete.

Tough night for the Pels as Bull’s guard Zach Lavine’s 46 points help lift Chicago to a 129-116 win over New Orleans. It’s the end of a four game win streak for New Orleans who was up at the half but just buried by Lavine and his backcourt partner Colby White who both made over eight threes in the game. Only good news? Another 29 points from Zion and rookie guard Kira Lewis played 24 aggressive minutes racking up 14 points.

In better news the Tigers scored another W last night getting a 94-80 win over Mississippi State behind big games from guards Cameron Thomas and Javonte Smart who put up 25 and 22 points respectively. Hot night of shooting for the Tigers who went 61 percent from the floor and 45 from 3.

After a brutal start to the year Northwestern has now won four in a row. The Demons won a squeaker over Incarnate Word 68 to 67 last night on a team effort that saw four players in double digit scoring.

The Cajuns and Warhawks begin their two game series tonight in Lafayette with tip off set for 7 PM. The Cajuns top two scorers are Cedric Russell, who is averaging nearly 19 points a game and sophomore Mylik Wilson, who is averaging 13 a contest. But Wilson’s shooting numbers are down from last season when he was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. Assistant coach Brock Morris says other teams have figured out what Wilson does well…

Cut 19 (23) “…he does best.” 

Warhawks coach Keith Richard says his team will face the challenge of trying to slow down guard Cedric Russell.

Cut 16 (10) “…doing it all.”