Julia Letlow, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s widow, has qualified to run in the special election for the 5^th District Congressional seat Luke won in December. He served as former Congressman Ralph Abraham’s chief of staff.  Julia says she watched how Luke handled himself and learned a lot.

Cut 7 (11) “…make a difference.”

Luke Letlow died of COVID-19 less than a week before he was set to be sworn in last month.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warns we will likely face hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the fiscal year that beginning in July. The Revenue Estimating Conference adopted this forecast ahead of the budget that will be presented in February. Dardenne says the budget will have to include cuts to higher ed and healthcare.

Cut 9, 7 seconds, hit

According to the most recent COVID-19 dashboard from the Public Affairs Research Council, the state is showing a downward trend in positivity rate for COVI-19 tests. The positivity rate for the state, in the last three days is 6.4 percent according to the PAR dashboard. President Robert Travis Scott says that’s an indicator we are on the downside of the most recent surge.

Cut 4 (12) “….eight weeks.” 

As for hospitalizations, the PAR dashboard shows levels in the third surge well surpassed the second peak over the summer. The peak was 2,069 on January 8^th.

The two biggest names in the race for the 2^nd Congressional District visited the Secretary of State’s office today to qualify. New Orleans Democratic state senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter have been racking up the endorsements so far and Peterson, The former chairperson of the Louisiana Democratic Party, vowed to fight for an increase in the minimum wage if elected.

Cut 12 (10) “…done it before” 

Carter also pushed for an increase during his time in the Legislature, one of the many issues he’s gone to the mat over…

Cut 11 (10) “..for it”

Gary Cater Jr. and Jenette Porter also joined the race. Libertarian Mindy McConnell is the only non-democrat in the running.

The three billion dollar Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project gets a small boost from the feds in the form of 12.5 million dollars in funding. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority head Chip Kline says state and local government has already pumped 600 million into the structure but it is nice to see the Corps of Engineers pitch in…

Cut 3 (06)  “…system.”

The system, once fully built, would protect Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating the fatal shooting of a teenager. Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodaux says the shooting took place during the overnight hours and the victim was shot in the 200 block of Guilno Street in Opelousas…

Cut 16 (10) “…later died” 

Candidates filed into the Secretary of State’s Office today for the first day of qualifying for both the special elections in the 2^nd and 5^th Congressional District. In the 2^nd State Senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter signed on the line along with Baton Rouge community activist Gary Chambers. Chambers plans to run as the progressive in the race, backing Medicare for All and the Green New Deal…

Cut 14 (09) ” last 100 years.” 

Mindy McConnell, a Libertarian from New Orleans, also qualified today. 

Tonight’s 730 million dollar jackpot drawing for the Powerball is the 4^th largest in game history. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says there’s lots of money up for grabs.

Cut 7 (11) “…dollars.”

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating the fatal shooting of a teenager. Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodaux says the shooting took place during the over night hours

Cut 15 (10) “…Opelousas” 

Thibodaux says the investigation is ongoing and no other information is being released.

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane protection project, which will protect Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, is awarded 12.5 million dollars by the Corps of Engineers. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority head Chip Kline says  it’s great to see this system, which protects tens of thousands of homes, get some attention after watching the New Orleans Levee System get fully funded.

Cut 5  (07) “..2005″ 

The full project will cost three billion dollars.

Candidates for the 2^nd Congressional District special election race signed up to run at the Secretary of State’s office today on the first day of qualifying. The two favorites in the race so far, New Orleans State Senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter officially qualified, alongside Baton Rouge community activist and small business owner Gary Chambers. Chambers says not being a career politician will be benefit him…

Cut 13 (07)“.being honest”

The 2^nd covers most of New Orleans along with the River Parishes and parts of north Baton Rouge.

The drawing for tonight’s Powerball is historic, according to Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin it’s the fourth largest in the game’s history with a cash value of 546 million.

Cut 6 (07) “..its history”

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane protection project, which will protect Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, is awarded 12.5 million dollars by the Corps of Engineers. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority head Chip Kline says the project as a whole will cost three billion dollars, but it’s a good start…

Cut 3 (06)  “…system.”

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf project was initially forecasted to cost 10 billion dollars, but that price has come down to three billion after the cost was updated in 2019. The state has already pumped 600 million into the project.

The first phase of the I-10 widening is complete. About 55 million dollars was spent to widen a 2.8 mile stretch of road from LA 347 to the Atchafalaya Basin, along with adding in some roundabouts on the 347 as well as drainage improvements. State Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says it’s money well-spent repaving roads first paved in the 50s…

Cut 7 (12) “…Louisiana.”

The project was completed with 10 million dollars in federal FAST START funds.

Two 16-year-olds are believed to have fatally shot each other in New Iberia Sunday night. New Iberia Police Sgt Daesha Hughes says the two teens, currently unidentified were found lying in the road and both were pronounced head on the scene. Hughes says they haven’t figured out a motive yet…

Cut 4 (07) “….one another.” 

An Amite man died and two others are in critical condition after an early morning head-on collision on LA 16 in St. Helena Parish. 69-year-old Clarence Griffin was prounced dead on the scene after his car was struck by 65-year-old Terry MacDonald who crossed the center line. State Police Trooper Jeremy Price says unfortunately for Mr. Griffin…

Cut 14 (12) “injuries.” 

Starting in April American Airlines will offer direct flights out of Alexandria International Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina. The flights will make it easier for military stationed at Fort Polk to connect with their colleagues at North Carolina bases like Fort Bragg and Fort Jackson. England Airpark Alexandria International Executive Director Sandra McQuain also calls it a boon for business.

Cut 10 (08) “…Louisiana”

Officials cut the ribbon today on the first of three phases in the 183 million dollar I-10 widening project. State Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they widened a stretch from LA 347 at the intersection of I-10 all the way to the Atchafalaya Basin to three lanes.

Cut 6 (11) “..stretch”

The project also included two roundabouts and drainage improvements on LA 347.

New Iberia Police are looking for a motive after two 16-year olds apparently shot and killed each other at close range. New Iberia Police Sgt. Daesha Hughes says they don’t know if the teens knew each other and both were declared dead on the scene Sunday night. She says the community is both saddened and angry over the deaths want answers.

Cut 5  (09) “…had guns” 

Governor John Bel Edwards will attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, representing the Bayou State.

cut 2 (32) ….I’m Brooke Thorington”  

State Police Trooper Jeremy Price says 69-year-old Clarence Griffin of Amite is dead after his vehicle was struck in a head on collision in St. Helena Parish…

Cut 13 (12)“.condition”

Phase One of the 183 million dollar I-10 widening and refurbishing is complete. Taylor Sharp has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”  

Governor John Bel Edwards will be one of the few people allowed into tomorrow’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Edwards left for D.C. Monday and will be joined in the nation’s capital by 174 Louisiana National Guard soldiers and airmen joining the 25,000 Guard strong security force.

Starting in April Alexandria International Airport will begin offering direct flights to Charlotte, good news for military serving at Fort Polk who have friends in Fort Bragg or Fort Jackson. England Airpark, Alexandria International Executive Director Sandra McQuain says Alexandria has been running about twice the national average for traffic throughout the pandemic, and that’s getting people’s attention.

Cut 11 (08) “…ago”

An Amite man died and two others are in critical condition after an early morning head-on collision on LA 16 in St. Helena Parish. State Police Trooper Jeremy Price says the fatality has been identified as 69-year-old Clarence Griffin…

Cut 12 (11) “…head on” 

Price says the driver of that truck that struck Mr. Griffin was 65-year-old Terry MacDonald.