Louisiana Radio Network News, I’m Matt Doyle.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency.  Kelley Ray explains what that means…

Cut 2, 31 seconds, I’m Kelley Ray

The DOTD says that interstates that are still closed will remain closed until tomorrow.

Authorities say An 84-year-old Point Coupee man was found dead in his home this morning due to hypothermia. Paul Maker was pronounced dead on the scene after Deputies arrived at 11AM this morning after one of his neighbors called 9-1-1.

It was 20 degrees in the house when authorities arrived.

LRN

Needless to say the icy road conditions are something Louisianans are not familiar with, but there are still motorists out who are required to be at work. State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says based on the number of crashes they saw in a short period of time this morning, plenty of people can’t handle a vehicle on the ice…:

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Lee says troopers responded to at least 40 crashes this morning.

This morning before 10am, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says an 8 month old child died, and its mother is in grave condition after their vehicle slid into a canal in Metairie from what authorities say appears to be the result of iced roads. DOTD Spokesman Rodney Mallett says He says even when the temperatures get above freezing, it make take a while for the roads to thaw out…:

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Mallett says they will work to re-open the bridges and interstates as soon as it is safe to do so. No timetable has been announced yet.

LRN News

Some roads continue to be covered in ice but sections of Louisiana’s interstates remain closed due to treacherous conditions.  The Transportation Department’s Rodney Mallett says, despite all of the interstate closures, their crews have been working around the clock to make it to where at least some travel is possible…:

Cut 15 (11) “ferry all night”

A State of Emergency remains in effect for the state.  Governor John Bel Edwards says it was a tough morning for drivers to navigate and is concerned tonight’s cold temperatures could be a repeat of this morning…

CUT 13 (09) “freeze again.”

Temps will remain below freezing tonight and tomorrow night before rebounding for the weekend.

Baton Rouge drivers found roads in the capital city slicker than an ice skating rink.  State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says troopers responded to at least 40 crashes involving cars sliding off the roadways between 5 and 9am.   He says it’s advisable to stay at home if you can…

Cut 4 (09) “be patient.”

The Governor’s Office says 4 deaths are attributed to the cold snap.  A firefighter in West Feliciana Parish on Highway 61 near St. Francisville was killed after responding to an accident.  An eight month old baby died when the car her mother was driving slid off the roadway and plunged into a canal in Metairie.  The mother is listed in critical condition.  An elderly man died in Point Coupee Parish after suffering a fall and a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car while walking on the Highrise Bridge on    I-10 in New Orleans.

The state of Louisiana feels more like a frozen tundra today as record breaking cold temperatures were hit. Chris Bannon with National Weather Service in Slidell says temperatures will get back above freezing this afternoon, but we’ll see another hard freeze tonight, which is not good for icy roads…:
Cut 6 (09) “over night”
State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says based on the number of crashes they saw in a short period of time this morning, plenty of people can’t handle a vehicle on the ice…:
Cut 3 (11) “use caution”
This morning before 10am, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says a woman and child suffered very serious injuries when their vehicle slid into a canal.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a State of Emergency due to the hazardous winter weather conditions. He says it’s imperative that people stay home since DOTD crews have a short time to get salt and deicing agents applied to prevent tonight’s cold temperatures to refreeze the roads…:
Cut 11 (10) “refreeze again”
He says to also check 5-1-1-L-A for the latest driving conditions.

Thousands are without power today. Many SWEPCO customers in northwest Louisiana are without electricity and heat. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says the heavy ice accumulation is the main cause of the power outages…:
Cut 9 (12) “our outages”
Sullivan says crews are working as quickly as possible to restore power.

We’re experiencing some of the coldest temperatures of the season today, and several records have already been broken throughout the state. In New Orleans, the airport reached 20 degrees around 6am shattering a previous record of 23 degrees set on this day in 1977. The Baton Rouge Airport was 14 degrees around 7am, beating a record low of 18 degrees in 1977.

The roads are iced over and drivers are having a hard time getting around:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Iced roads and closed schools have many workers asking if they have to go to their jobs today. Baton Rouge Attorney Yigal Bander says if your boss threatens you with a pink slip for skipping work, he could fire you. But if you have a legal disability, and are fired today for not attending, you may have a legal recourse…:
Cut 9 (10) “have a case”

If a presidential election between Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey actually happened, 60% of voters in Louisiana say they would vote for Mr. Trump. That’s according to a UNO Poll, and pollster Ed Chervenak who says white men and women had nearly identical levels of support for Mr. Trump, but the numbers were different among black voters…:
Cut 5 (10) “were split”
The poll was of 722 Louisiana voters.

The icy roads that are open are mostly empty throughout the state today, which is a good thing as most offices, including all government, schools and other businesses have closed their doors due to the winter weather. DOTD’s Rodney Mallett is reminding motorists that even though a slight warm up is expected later in the day, it doesn’t mean the roads won’t still be bad…:
CUT 16 (12) “thaw out”
He says it’s best to stay in unless you have to report to work.

And if your office is open today, your boss has a right to make you report despite road conditions. Baton Rouge Attorney Yigal Bander says Louisiana is employment at will which means outside of gender, race, religion and other protected areas; your boss can still release you if you don’t come in…:
Cut 8 (10) “at all”

A UNO poll shows President Donald Trump would handily beat Oprah Winfrey in a hypothetical Louisiana general election. Matt Doyle has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says taxpayers could save millions, if electric companies and cities convert to new energy efficient environmentally friendly streetlights…:
Cut 10 (10) “money back”

It’s hard to believe but Louisianians woke up to temperatures this morning in the single digits in the northern parishes, and in the teens further south. Lake Charles National Weather Service forecaster Robert Megnia (meg-knee-a) says the cold isn’t going anywhere for a couple of days…:
Cut 14 (07) “near 30″
After that, daytime highs will gradually climb the rest of the week, with highs reaching the 50s by Friday.

There are many roads that are closed this morning, including major interstates. For the routes that are open, ice is still a factor. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says they’ve been doing what they can with salt and brine.:
Cut 15 (08) “routes open”
He says it’s best to stay put today, but if you must be out be sure to check 511la.org for the most up-to-date information on road closures.

If your office isn’t closed this morning, are you still required to report for duty even though the roads are icy?
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Entergy Louisiana is reporting about 23,400 customers are without power throughout the state, the majority of those in the New Orleans area due to ice on power lines and icy tree limbs falling. But there are also many on the Northshore and Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Northeast Louisiana areas who are in the dark this morning.

Today is a great day to not leave your house in Louisiana. The drivers who are out this morning are struggling. Kelley Ray has a winter update..:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Current road closures include I-10 in both directions from I-49 in Lafayette to Williams Blvd in Kenner. I-12 is closed in both directions from I-10 in Baton Rouge to Madisonville/Goodbee. I-55 is closed from LaPlace to north of Kentwood. In North Louisiana, I-49 is closed from Shreveport to the border. In Lake Charles, the loop is closed.

Iced roads and closed schools have many workers asking if they have to go to their jobs today. Baton Rouge Attorney Yigal Bander says if your boss threatens you with a pink slip for skipping out, he’s still the boss.:
Cut 7 (10) “do about it”
Louisiana, like most states, is employment at will.

A UNO poll shows President Donald Trump beating Oprah Winfrey by double digits in a hypothetical general election matchup. Trump gathered 60 percent of support in the poll of 722 Louisiana voters. Pollster Ed Chervenak says part of the reason is the president’s high approval rating here…:
Cut 4 (07) “of Louisiana”
Trump’s approval rating is about 40 percent nationwide.

Drivers are finding it tough to get to where they need to be this morning.  Kelley Ray has more on this extended winter weather.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

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A UNO poll shows President Donald Trump would handily beat Oprah Winfrey in a hypothetical Louisiana general election. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Roads are iced and schools are closed, but many workers are still being called in to their jobs. Jeff Palermo talked to an attorney about whether or not your employer has the legal right to fire you for not coming in…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A statewide poll by UNO shows President Donald Trump beating Oprah Winfrey by double digits in a hypothetical general election matchup. Trump gathered 60 percent of support in the poll of 722 Louisiana voters, with the results slip sharply along racial and gender lines. Pollster Ed Chervenak says part of the reason is the president’s high approval rating in the bayou…

Cut 4  (07) “of Louisiana” 

Trump’s approval rating is about 40 percent nationwide.

White men and women had nearly identical levels of support for trump, but Chervenak says the numbers were different among black voters…

Cut 5  (10)  “were split.”

36 percent of black voters supported Trump over Winfrey in the poll. Chervenak says it’s because of the state’s conservative bent…

Cut 6 (07)  “the state”

Nationwide eight percent of blacks supported Trump in 2016.

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Iced roads and closed schools have many workers asking if they have to go to their jobs today. Baton Rouge Attorney Yigal Bander says if your boss threatens you with a pink slip for skipping out, you don’t have many legal options…

Cut 7 (10)  “do about it.”

Louisiana, like most states, is employment at will. Bander says outside of gender, race, religion, and other protected areas, this means your employment status is wholly up to your boss…

Cut 8 (10) “at all.”

Bander says if you have a legal disability, and are fired today for not attending, you may have a legal recourse…

Cut 9 (10)  “have a case.”

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Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says taxpayers could save millions, if electric companies and cities convert to new energy efficient environmentally friendly streetlights.  Campbell is proposing that the PSC conduct a comprehensive review of streetlight technology and how cities can save money by changing over.  He says 40 percent of Shreveport’s electric bill is for their 35,000 street lights…

Cut 10 (10) “money back.”

Campbell points out the lights are environmentally friendly and has other benefits.  Cities and towns would have more control over the equipment to help conserve energy…

Cut 11 (09) “do that.”

Cities and towns have expressed concern over the cost of the changeover, saying they don’t have enough capital at the outset to change over to the new technology.  Campbell says if the PSC approves this study, those cities will get the help they need…

Cut 12 (07) “save money.”

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Some of the coldest temperatures Louisiana has seen so far are being observed this morning. Some areas are reporting near single digit temperatures while coastal areas are not warmer than the 20’s to start the day off.  Lake Charles National Weather Service forecaster Robert Megnia (meg-knee-a) says the entire state is waking up to a chilly morning…

Cut 13 (09)  “9 degrees.”

Megnia says after bottoming out this morning, temperatures will slowly rebound across the state over the next 48 hours…

Cut 14 (07) “near 30.”

Meanwhile, if you’re heading out to work this morning, allow for plenty of extra time.  DOTD’s Rodney Mallet says if a road is deemed unsafe, you might find your normal route to work may be closed…

Cut 15 (08) “routes open.”

Mallet says even when temperatures above freezing later today, it doesn’t mean the slippery conditions go away immediately…

Cut 16 (11)  “thaw out.”

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Drew Brees’s contract is a huge question mark for the Saints this offseason. The quarterback turned 39 on Monday, and is a free agent in March. Brees and the Saints front office have been coy so far about contract negotiations, but Brees says he hopes to have a deal before the free agent deadline. The quarterback says this young, talented group is a great incentive to stick around with his favorite team…

Cut 17 (16) “yes i do”

Brees says he intends to end his career in black and gold, and doesn’t want to play anywhere else. He said part of that is because head coach Sean Payton took a chance on him in 2006 when others wouldn’t…

Cut 18 (14) “Sean Payton”

After the best campaign in years was cut tragically short by Stephon Diggs, Drew took a moment to reflect on the season…

Cut 19 (12)  “be proud of” 

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