Parts of coastal Southeast Louisiana saw snow early this morning.  Measurable snow fell in Grand Isle and areas of south Plaquemines Parish.  Alek Krautman with the National Weather Service in Slidell says the last time snow stuck to the ground in that area was December 1989…

Cut 3 (11) “Venice area.”

The Louisiana SPCA says they are getting numerous reports of pets left outside in this extremely cold weather.  Some pets are being seized by authorities and owners are being charged with animal cruelty.  SPCA spokesperson Alicia Haefele says their officers are responding to all calls concerning outdoor animals left alone…

Cut 9 (11)  “them properly.”

Dr. Joseph Johnson, one of the most influential alumni and presidents in Grambling State University’s history passed away yesterday. Johnson was instrumental in a 1981 consent decree that led to an increase in funding for the school, facilitating the creation of the Grambling School of Nursing, and the university’s first doctoral program. Dr. Mildred Gallot who wrote a book about Johnson says he persevered, in the face of institutional discrimination…

Cut 13 (11)  “for him.”

Three are under arrest in the alleged shooting death of a man found near Gonzales in Ascension Parish.  The body of 20 year old Francisco Nieves was found in a ditch near a trailer park Tuesday.  Police say the shooting didn’t occur in Gonzales, but happened in Jefferson Parish.  20-year-old Archie Armstrong of Marrero is charged with second degree murder while two others face accessory to second degree murder charges…

The big weather story was there was snow on the ground in Grand Isle today. Jeff Palermo has more on our frigid weather…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Texas A&M is not taking no for an answer and is coming after LSU defense coordinator Dave Aranda again.  Aranda turned down their original offer of 1.85-milllion dollars to make him the highest paid college assistant coach in the country.  An LSU source says the new offer may be closer now to 3 million and Aranda would have the flexibility to hire his own defensive staff.

The polar vortex is wreaking havoc across Louisiana, and is suspected as the reason behind a Baton Rouge house fire that resulted in the death of an elderly couple Tuesday morning. So far, investigators are attributing many of the fires across the state to people taking big risks to keep their homes warm. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning has a few fundamental fire safety tips…

Cut 7 (12)  “if you are cooking.”

Dr. Joseph Johnson, one of the most influential alumni and presidents in Grambling State University’s history passed away yesterday. He was the university’s third president, serving from 1977 to 1991, and nearly tripled the institutions enrollment during his tenure. Dr. Mildred Gallot, who wrote a book on Grambling’s history saying he had a tough reputation.

Cut 12 (06) “meant business.”

Snow was the big weather maker in south east Louisiana earlier this morning.  The cold weather will continue tonight to make an impact bring another night of freezing temperatures statewide.  The Weather Service’s Alek Krautman…

Cut 5  (12)  “north Louisiana.”

Warmer weather is expected by the weekend with temps in the 60’s statewide.

The Louisiana SPCA says stray cats are trying to find warm areas to camp out in, including your car.  They usually end up in the under carriage of vehicles.   SPCA spokesperson Alicia Haefele says a simple step can make them leave quickly…

Cut 11 (09) “that engine.”

This arctic blast has Louisianans scrambling to protect their homes. Matt Doyle talked to State Fire Marshal Butch Browning about a growing issue…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Texas A&M is not taking no for an answer and is coming after LSU defense coordinator Dave Aranda again.  Aranda turned down their original offer of 1.85-milllion dollars to make him the highest paid college assistant coach in the country.  An LSU source says the new offer may be closer now to 3 million.  and Aranda would have the flexibility to hire his own defensive staff.  There has been no decision made yet.

LSU economist Loren Scott discusses his early analysis of the GOP’s 1.5 trillion dollar tax bill. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino.”

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It could be an interesting 2018 in Louisiana politics.  Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

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Top Republicans and the governor are sparring ahead of a January 19^th deadline for a deal on the fiscal cliff. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “Im Matt Doyle.”

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A few national corporations announced they’d be giving holiday bonuses last week as a result of the GOP tax bill, but on a local level the response has been somewhat more muted. LSU economist Loren Scott says Louisiana business are still analyzing the thousand page tax bill, and it’s too early to predict exactly how it will play out back home…

Cut 4  (10) “in Louisiana” 

The bill is a substantial reduction in corporate and business taxes, and is aimed at enticing foreign businesses to relocate to the USA, and inspiring domestic businesses to expand. Republicans say the bill will help maintain the current three percent growth in GDP, and Scott says if that happens, it would be a big boost to the Louisiana economy…

Cut 5  (09)  “economy grows.”

On the individual level, the bill capped state and local tax deductions and a number of other personal deductions, while lowering tax brackets and doubling the standard deduction. The complex restructuring hit people in some states such as California and New York particularly hard, but Scott says Louisiana is a different tax environment…

Cut 6 (09)  “get hammered.”

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2018 could be a volatile year in Louisiana politics.  It’s a somewhat quiet year for elections, but UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Legislature and Governor John Bel Edwards have a long road facing them after the one cent sales tax falls off the books June 30^th, leaving Louisiana with a one-billion-dollar deficit…

Cut 7 (08)  “the budget.”

Even though the Governor’s election is nearly two years in the future, there has already been talk of possible opponents against Governor Edwards.  Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham has already said he’s thinking about it and other potential GOP challengers including John Kennedy, Jeff Landry and Garret Graves as well.  Cross says some want to see changes in the top state office…

Cut 8 (12) “2019 race.”

The Louisiana Congressional delegation appears to be solid going into the mid-term elections this year.  Cross feels 3^rd District Congressman Clay Higgins faces the most opposition…

Cut 9 (10)  “do it.”

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The looming fiscal cliff has party leaders preparing for a series of tense negotiations ahead of a January 19^th deadline imposed by Governor John Bel Edwards. That deadline was set with the hope that legislative leaders would have the framework for a deal to address an imminent one billion dollar shortfall. State Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere is not happy with the governor’s deadline…

Cut 10 (12) “of Louisiana.”

Edwards wants a deal in principle by January 19^th so he can call a special session in February to pass new tax laws to address the budget deficit. The Governor says he wants a revenue neutral plan, but Villere says Edwards is really calling for a tax hike.

2018 is off to a very cold start. Lows this morning were in the teens to low 20s and wind chills were in the single digits in some areas. Phil Grigsby, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says this arctic air mass is not going away.  We’ll have to wait until this weekend before the Bayou State can finally thaw out…

Cut 5  (10)  “night time hours”

A hard freeze warning is in effect tonight into tomorrow morning.

Fourth District Congressman Mike Johnson and Attorney General Jeff Landry have released the “Louisiana Student Rights Review”.   Johnson says the resource was created to answer many legal questions and to clear up misconceptions about religion on school campuses.

Cut 9 (08)  “public schools.”

Johnson says the publication is available for download at his website mike-johnson-for-louisiana-dot-com.

Was it hard for you to be motivated to return to work today after taking time off for the holidays? CEO of Mid-America Careers Nick Murphy says many fear the large backlog of work that stacked up, but he says don’t feel as though everything needs to be done right away…

Cut 7 (11) “stay dilligent.”

The arctic blast keeping Louisianans indoors is threatening this year’s crawfish harvest.  Louisiana Crawfish Promotion Board President David Savoy says the sudden freeze could end up making crawfish a hard find in time for an earlier than usual carnival season. Temperatures are set to return to winter norms next week.  He says that’s the earliest he expects fishermen to be able to start trawling again.

Cut 14 (10) “next week.”

The cold weather is a big threat to this year’s crawfish harvest. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

It was so cold today in fact that snow fell in parts of Southeast Louisiana today in the areas of Morgan City, Houma, Grand Isle and Raceland. The entire state is under a hard freeze warning tonight and into tomorrow morning.  Temperatures will remain well below normal state wide through at least the end of this work week.

Fourth District Congressman Mike Johnson and Attorney General Jeff Landry have released the “Louisiana Student Rights Review”.   Johnson says the resource was created to answer many legal questions and to clear up misconceptions about religion on school campuses. Johnson says the publication is available for download from his website and he hopes everyone involved in the education system can benefit.

Cut 11 (09) “exercise them.”

Many find it hard to be motivated at work after taking time off for the holidays..  But CEO of Mid-America Careers Nick Murphy says if you are in a job that you truly are not happy with, it may be a good time to make a change at the start of the new year, Just don’t make too quick of a jump…

Cut 8 (09) “equally miserable”

Louisiana Radio Network News, I’m Matt Doyle

There’s no escaping the frigid temperatures this week in Louisiana, Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Two people were found dead today at the site of a house fire in Baton Rouge, bringing the total to over seven houses fire across the state in just 24 hours. The Baton Rouge fire department arrived on the scene just after four a.m. in the 2300 block of 78^th avenue. State Fire Marshals are warning Louisianans to not use irregular heating devices in the face of this unusually cold winter weather, and to make sure you check your fire alarms before going to sleep tonight.

LRN

Congressman Mike Johnson and Attorney General Jeff Landry put out their “Louisiana Student Rights Review”. Recently a Webster Parish school came under fire for utilizing religious ceremony during mandatory attendance events. Johnson says the school was within its rights to broadcast religious content…

Cut 10

He says the resource was created to clear up legal questions relating to the use of religion in schools.

It can be tough to get back on the horse after an extended weekend full of holiday festivities, and this cold weather probably isn’t helping. CEO of Mid America Careers Nick Murphy says there’s no need to go zero to sixty when returning to work…

Cut 6

Murphy says along with easing yourself back into a good workflow, that a new year can be a good time to look for a better job.

LRN News, Im Matt Doyle

Another hard freeze warning is in effect for tonight into tomorrow morning for most of Louisiana. But Phil Grigsby with the National Weather Service in Slidell says there is some good news.  The winds will die down and that will make it feel a little warmer outside…

Cut 4  (09) “out there” 

Meanwhile, the arctic blast is keeping Louisianans indoors and is threatening this year’s crawfish harvest. The state’s winters are usually wet and mild, perfect conditions for breeding plenty of big crawfish, but the near record lows have halted production.  Last year’s crop came with a low profit margin and Louisiana Crawfish Promotion Board President David Savoy says expect much smaller crawfish…

Cut 13 (05)  “small size.”

Fourth District Congressman Mike Johnson and Attorney General Jeff Landry have released the “Louisiana Student Rights Review”. Recently a school in Johnson’s Congressional District came under fire after a teacher allegedly conducted open prayer with students.  And a mother filed suit against a Webster Parish school after claiming all school events, including graduations, had a degree of religious ceremonies.  Johnson feels in view of this review, the schools are not in the wrong…

Cut 10 (06) “the case.”

You may be back at work today after the long holiday period and it might be hard to get back into the swing of things.  But if you’re in a job you’re not happy with, CEO of Mid America Careers Nick Murphy says it may be a good time to make a change at the start of the new year.  Many employers are starting to hire with new budgets in place, but he warns not to make too quick of a jump…

Cut 8 (09) “equally miserable”

Do your best to get used to this cold weather, because it will be around all week. Jeff Palermo has more from the National Weather Service…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The cold weather is a big threat to this year’s crawfish harvest. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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2018 is off to a very cold start. Lows this morning were in the teens to low 20s and wind chills were in the single digits in some areas. Phil Grigsby, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says this arctic air mass is not going away…

Cut 3 (10) “weekend”

Another hard freeze warning is in effect for tonight into tomorrow morning. But Grigsby says there is some good news, as the winds will die down and that will make it feel a little warmer outside…

Cut 4  (09) “out there” 

Girgsby says we’ll have to wait until this weekend before the Bayou State can finally thaw out…

Cut 5  (10)  “night time hours”

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Many find it hard to be motivated at work after taking time off for the holidays. And with the extended cold snap, it may be challenging to get out and go back to work.  But once you get there, CEO of Mid-America Careers Nick Murphy says do not be too hard on yourself as you get back into “work mode”…

Cut 6 (10)  “back into it.”

There may be a large backlog of work that needs to completed that has stacked up.  Murphy says don’t feel as though everything needs to be done right away…

Cut 7 (11)  “stay dilligent.”

If you are in a job that you truly are not happy with, it may be a good time to make a change at the start of the new year.  Many employers are starting to hire with new budgets in place. Murphy cautions not to make too quick of a jump…

Cut 8 (09) “equally miserable”

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Fourth District Congressman Mike Johnson and Attorney General Jeff Landry have released the “Louisiana Student Rights Review”.   Johnson says the resource was created to answer many legal questions and to clear up misconceptions about religion on school campuses.

Cut 9 (08)  “public schools.”

Recently a school in Johnson’s Congressional District came under fire after a teacher allegedly conducted open prayer with students.  And a mother filed suit against a Webster Parish school after claiming all school events, including graduations, had a degree of religious ceremonies.  Johnson feels the schools are not in the wrong.

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