The Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s Annual Meeting today in Baton Rouge will feature the first forum of 2023 Governor candidates. LABI President & CEO Stephen Waguespack says his group is pushing a strategic game plan, “LA 23,” to help make Louisiana an economic driver by 2030, and that will be a big focus of today’s meeting…:
Cut 11 (10) “that plan; LA 23”
The four declared Republican candidates are slated to be there today.

A volunteer search group out of Texas is getting involved in the search for 42-year-old Nathan Millard (Me-lard) of Georgia who vanished after leaving Happy’s Irish Pub in Baton Rouge last week. Kristen Harvey with Texas EquuSearch says they’ll be in town today asking questions…:
CUT 8 (08) “law enforcement”
Anyone with information on Millard’s disappearance is urged to contact Baton Rouge Police.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow is proposing a measure in Congress that would let parents legally ask about what their child is being taught in school…:
Cut 15 (05) “time and time again”
The bill has already received more than 60 co-sponsors.

Two farmers and a retired educator will be inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction this evening. Don Molino has more..:
Cut 3 (31) “working in sugarcane”

The search for a Georgia man who mysteriously went missing in Baton Rouge last week while on a business trip is heating up. 42-year-old Nathan Millard (Me-lard) is a married father of five and disappeared after leaving Happy’s Irsh Pub downtown. The search and recovery group Texas EquuSearch is now involved, and its coordinator is Kristen Harvey:
Cut 7 (11) “slept in”
Harvey says they shared photos of Millard inside the hotel before he vanished, and the volunteer group will be in Baton Rouge today.

Senator Bill Cassidy is responding to a report from the FBI that indicates Covid likely originated from a lab leak during viral research in Wuhan, China. Cassidy questions why that notion was passed off as false information back in 2020…:
Cut 4 (08) “for so long”
He says it’s time for the government to be upfront with Americans about what is known.

The Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s Annual Meeting today in Baton Rouge will feature the first forum of 2023 gubernatorial candidates….:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The National Weather Service in Shreveport said supercell thunderstorms have the potential to produce tornadoes, large hail and flash flooding in the Ark-La-Texas region this afternoon and tonight. They put the area under a moderate risk for severe weather through 6am tomorrow.

US Representative Julie Letlow of Start has support of Republicans in Congress for her bill giving parents the legal right to review their child’s school curriculum. Letlow is a former educator and says this bill is not an attack on schools, but opens up communication…:
CUT 14 (09) “child’s education”
She said during Covid, parents had a difficult time inquiring about what their kids were being taught and this measure seeks to correct that.

2023 gubernatorial candidates are set to attend their first forum today at LABI’s annual meeting. Republican candidates – A.G. Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, and state legislators Sharon Hewitt and Richard Nelson – are confirmed to be there. LABI President Stephen Waguespack says it’ll be a question-and-answer session:
CUT 10 (08) “business community”
The event gets underway this morning at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Baton Rouge.

The search for missing Georgia business executive Nathan Millard who went missing in Downtown Baton Rouge intensifies. More from Teiko Foxx…:
Cut 1 (32) “Teiko Foxx”

The widow of Governor Edwin Edwards, Trina, has announced she and her fiancé, 79-year-old former state Senate president John Alario will get married on June 1st. The couple has been engaged since August of last year.

Baton Rouge area Congressman Garret Graves says he is “feeling pressure” to run for governor but will not commit one way or the other. So, will he run or not? “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford has watched many political campaigns unfold and says Graves is employing a pretty smart strategy by playing coy on the race…:
Cut 7 (12) “bit of theatrics here”
Graves can run for Governor this fall, and simply return to Congress should he not win.

A grand jury in West Baton Rouge Parish indicts an Addis police officer for a New Year’s Eve crash that happened during a high-speed chase. Officer David Cauthron was chasing a car theft suspect, when he ran a red light on Highway 1 in Brusly and hit a car carrying three teens. Two teen girls were killed, and a teen boy passenger was critically injured. The grand jury indicted Cauthron for manslaughter, negligent injuring, reckless operation and malfeasance in office.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Mardi Gras was a big success for New Orleans, despite being marred by acts of violence and crime. The official numbers are still being tallied, but Nungesser says there were huge crowds in Metairie and New Orleans on Fat Tuesday….:
Cut 12 (12) “prior to COVID”
However, Nungesser says cities (especially New Orleans) must be allowed to get a handle on rising crime or crowds will DWINDLE.

A Netflix original movie filmed in Ascension Parish hit the streaming platform no Friday. “We Have a Ghost” is the story of a family who moves into a fixer-upper and becomes a viral sensation when they reveal a ghost in their home. Aquiles Montalvo (Achilles Mon-tal-vo) an assistant location manager on the film says you’ll recognize Donaldsonville in a car chase scene…:
Cut 6 (07) “for a treat”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy involved shooting at a gas station that left a suspect dead. They say they responded to a call around 4am at a Terrytown convenience store, where a man was behaving erratically before becoming combative towards deputies then fired at least one shot. One of the deputies fired their service weapon at the suspect striking and killing him.

A West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicts a former Addis cop for his role in a New Year’s Eve high-speed chase and car crash that killed two teenage girls. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Lent is underway which marks the official beginning of Crawfish season in Louisiana. The Crawfish App compares local prices for mudbugs and co-founder Laney King says not only is this weekend perfect weather-wise for a boil, it’s also promising for the season itself…:
Cut 4 (07) “excited about”
She says prices are back to normal compared to previous seasons and will keep dropping as we get closer to Easter.

LSU Health Shreveport has been chosen as a site for a nationwide study on Parkinson’s Disease in African Americans. LSUHS Center for Brain Health Director Elizabeth Disbrow says information gathered on Black and African American connections to Parkinson’s Disease is only one piece of a larger global effort to enhance knowledge of genetic information and treatment..”
Cut 11 (09) “clear diagnosis”

A grand jury in West Baton Rouge has indicted the Addis police officer involved in a high-speed chase that left two teenagers dead and one seriously injured on New Year’s Eve. 42-year-old David Cauthron is now formally charged with 2 counts of manslaughter, aggravated obstruction of a highway, negligent injury, malfeasance in office and reckless operation.

Congressman Garret Graves is feeling pressure to announce whether or not he’ll run for Governor. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
CUT 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s an embarrassment that gun charges were dropped by the Orleans Parish DA’s Office against 16 men arrested over Mardi Gras in The Big Easy. He says the system must do better as the crime issue in New Orleans is going to deter big conventions from coming here…:
Cut 14 (06) “the streets safer”
He’s calling for the dismissal of the assistant district attorney who made the decision.

Lent marks the official kickoff to crawfish season in Louisiana, so what’s it going to set you back this year? The Crawfish App compares the price of mudbugs in your local area, and co-founder Laney King says prices are down 5 percent over last year…:
CUT 3 (11) “$125 a sack”
You can check the prices near you by searching for The Crawfish App on your phone.

A new research study finds that COVID-19 mandates put in place in many American cities made virtually no difference in stopping the spread of the virus. Vitor Melo (pronounce: VEE-tor Mellow) conducted the study for George Mason University. He says they found people stood firm on their stance on the vaccine, but felt they’d be penalized for not getting it where mandates were in place…:
Cut 6 (12) “their behavior at all”
He says they found those who resisted the shots would simply go to a nearby city with no mandates to visit bars or restaurants.

State Police say a crash early Thursday morning claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman from Denham Springs in St. Helena Parish. They say two vehicles were involved in the incident and that Natalie Thompson was not restrained and was pronounced deceased on the scene. The other driver was not injured. It’s under investigation.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sherriff’s Office says a man has been arrested in connection to a 2010 murder. They say 30-year-old Montrey Paige of Loranger is booked with second degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Jamins Robinson of Independence who was killed nearly 13 years ago. TPSO Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says Paige was 17 years old in 2010, but will still be charged as an adult…:
Cut 12 (07) “of Louisiana”

The truck driving shortage continues to put a strain on the trucking industry – creating a gap between professional CDL-licensed drivers and delivering goods. Louisiana Motor Transport Association Director Renee Amar says hiring younger may be a solution…:
Cut 8 (09) “big rigs”
She says they are always looking for truckers who can be dedicated in the long term.

Did citywide Covid vaccine mandates prevent the spread of the virus? A new study out of George Mason University says no. It was conducted by Vitor Melo (pronounce: VEE-tor Mellow) who says they looked at infections and deaths in cities that mandated COVID vaccines and those that didn’t:
Cut 4 (11) “spread of COVID”
He says this wasn’t about the efficacy of the vaccine itself, but pointed to the fact that mandates didn’t change people’s minds about whether or not they chose to get the shot.

Shreveport Police say arrests have been made in both shooting incidents that took place during the Gemini Parade on Saturday. Corporal Chris Bordelon says the first shooting stemmed from an argument where a suspect shot a victim who is expected to survive. He says the second appeared to be an accident where a 17 year old was shot and killed. Both suspects have been charged…:
CUT 15 (03) “catch em”

The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office says a bicyclist was struck and killed this morning on La-1 near the Plaquemine-Sunshine Ferry westbank landing. State Police is investigating the incident and not releasing the victim’s name before notifying family.

The trucking industry is still being impacted by a shortage of drivers. Teiko Foxx has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Teiko Foxx”

Many areas of the state saw record highs Thursday and forecasters say the warm weather is expected to continue today.