Work continues today on the reopening of major highways closed because of snow and ice. Large portions of I-10 and I-55 are closed as well as U-S 90 in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they’ve been chipping away on six inches of ice on elevated portions of our highway system, and they expect major progress today

Cut 6 (13) “…the sun.”

Louisiana Transportation Secretary Joe Donahue says they expect the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge and the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge to reopen today, but the I-10 Twin Spans and the Bonnet Carre spillway will likely not re-open until Friday.

The Robertson family returns in Duck Dynasty: The Revival, premiering this summer on A&E. Featuring 20 episodes, the reboot follows Willie, Korie, their children, and grandchildren navigating family, business, and legacy. Original favorites like Uncle Si will appear, but Phil Robertson who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s will not. Episodes will stream on a major platform after airing.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents were busy during the snowstorm rescuing duck hunters. Two duck hunters were stranded on Lake Henderson in St. Martin Parish and Sergeant Jeremy Foret was part of the effort where four duck hunters got stranded in St. Mary Parish…

Cut 13 (06)  “…call for help.”

Today makrs the beginning on D.C. Mardi Gras in Washington D.C.  Jeremy Alford, the publisher of LaPolitcs-dot-com, says the weather here in Louisiana is preventing several people from being able to attend because they cannot get out of the state. He says one of the biggest talking points this year is which Louisianians will get roles in the second Trump administration. He says this is the networking event of the year.

Cut 5 (09) “…government relations professionals.”

Below-freezing temperatures are cold for Louisiana, but this morning we nearly saw temperatures below zero. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy announced his support for confirming South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the 8th U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. Praising her focus on border security and counterterrorism, Cassidy expressed confidence in her leadership and the administration’s commitment to securing the southern border. He pledged to vote for her confirmation.

Since the start of the storm, DOTD has worked around the clock to treat roadways with salt and brine. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says that work continues today and beyond.

Cut 9 (11)  “…tonight and tomorrow.”

I-10 westbound from I-49 to the Texas state line has been reopened.

Get used to this snow; it’s going to be around for a few more days. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says while it will be warmer tomorrow, it won’t warm up to the point to cause any significant melting.

Cut 12 (09) “…into the weekend.”

New all time record lows were set this morning. National Weather Service Meteorologist Stacey Denson says they are still finalizing snowfall totals, but a large portion of southwest Louisiana saw more than a half foot of snow…

Cut 4 (07) “…in Acadia Parish.”

Who got the most snow yesterday? Looks like the winner is Chalmette as the New Orleans suburb recorded 11.5 inches of snow. St. Bernard Parish Director of Homeland Security John Rahaim (ram) says the historic snowfall was great, but he’s ready for it go to away.

Cut 8 (11) “…here pretty soon.”

Since the start of the storm, DOTD has worked around the clock to treat roadways with salt and brine. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says that work continues today and beyond.

Cut 9 (11)  “…tonight and tomorrow.”

Get used to this snow; it’s going to be around for a few more days. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says despite the slightly warmer temperatures, we will not be out of the woods with dangerous conditions just yet.

Cut 13 (09)  “…block of ice.”

To get around the state, Governor Jeff Landry has been flying in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane. Public flight records show the single-engine plane traveling between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, near where the governor lives. The plane also made several back-and-forth trips between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after the Bourbon Street terrorist attack.  WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington says they do know the plane is not just for the governor’s travels

Cut 11 (12) “…in a hurry.”

The governor’s office says using the plane instead of the helicopters should save the state money.

The state has moved almost 160 homeless people in New Orleans, who were living in encampments around the Superdome, into a transitional shelter in Gentilly.  The plan has drawn concern from a pair of state legislators and from nearby residents, even though there’s a concrete wall separating the neighborhoods from the street where the shelter is located off of France Road.  GOHSEP Chief of Staff Scott Adams says there is tight security in the area.

Cut 14 (10) “…areas are impacted.”

You’ll need a warm coat, gloves, hats, and boots next week as Louisiana could see a significant winter storm. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A Houma man was arrested for second-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his 75-year-old aunt, Joyce Williams, during a confrontation at her Houma home on January 16. Police found Williams with multiple stab wounds, but she later died at the hospital.  45-year-old Greg Gaither stayed at the scene and was detained without incident and has been booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex for one count of Second-Degree Murder.

der.

Many schools and state offices will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday as arctic cold weather is expected to grip the state and there’s a chance we’ll see snow on Tuesday.  The cold air mass will begin moving into the state on Sunday. Long periods of subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills are expected Sunday night through Thursday. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says Monday and Tuesday will be very cold days…

Cut 4 (11) “…above freezing.”

The University of New Orleans (UNO) will furlough approximately 290 staff and faculty members as part of ongoing efforts to close a 10-million-dollar budget deficit driven by low enrollment. This follows previous cost-cutting steps, including layoffs, administrative reductions, consolidating five colleges into two, and closing facilities. President Kathy Johnson says the decision was hard but necessary to secure UNO’s future.

Cut 6 (09) “…gut-wrenching.”

To get around the state, Governor Jeff Landry has been flying in a five-point-five-million-dollar airplane. Previous governors used helicopters but according to State Police, the helicopters were 20 years old and difficult to maintain. Public flight records show the single-engine plane traveling between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, near where the governor lives. The plane also made several back-and-forth trips between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after the Bourbon Street terrorist attack. WRKF Capitol Access Reporter Brooke Thorington says the plane was purchased last September….

Cut 10 (07) “…turbo prop plane.”

The state has moved almost 160 homeless people in New Orleans into a transitional shelter. Scott Adams, the chief of staff at GOHSEP, says the sweep is not city-wide.

Cut 12 (12) “…for Mardi Gras.”

Student attendance has become a key focus in Louisiana’s education system, with the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), the Louisiana Department of Education, and the state Legislature working to address rising truancy and chronic absenteeism. BESE Vice President Stacey Melerine (mel-uh-REEN) says in the 2023-24 school year, the truancy rate reached 41-percent, and students were absent an average of 11 days.

Cut 6 (09) “…grow as students.”

It’s going to warm up this weekend, but by no means should you be putting that winter jacket away just yet. Some parts of South Louisiana will see temperatures in the 70s this weekend. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says then comes a big change.

Cut 9 (07)  “…really cold air.”

The investigation continues into Saturday’s mass shooting in Webster Parish that injured six people, two of them critically. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) warns of potential fish kills along the coast as freezing temperatures and an arctic blast sweep across the state. Fisheries biologist Jason Adriance says water temperatures haven’t dropped enough yet.

Cut 6 (08) “…that can happen.”

So far this year, 11 people have died in eight separate fires across the state. The two latest deadly fires were in Shreveport and in Rapides Parish, with elderly victims in each. State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams says at this time last year, they did not have a single house fire fatality…

Cut 9 (08)  “…my team.”

You can help those affected by the tragedy in New Orleans by buying special Saints and Pelicans “love for New Orleans” warm-up shirts. Brittany Whitsell, the director of charitable giving and development for the Saints and the Pelicans, says the Saints and the Pelicans both worked with the NFL and the NBA, respectively, to crank out as many shirts as possible.

Cut 5 (08) “…soon as possible.”

The legislature is expected to take up soaring homeowners and auto insurance premiums in its next regular session this year. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says one state that had a similar plight is Florida, where homeowners saw their insurance premiums skyrocket after Hurricane Ian in 2022. He says just as Louisiana homeowners are experiencing, it took time for them to start seeing results.

Cut 15 (11) “…benefit of that.”

Will we see snow, ice or rain tomorrow in north Louisiana? That’s the big question with a winter storm that will move into Louisiana tomorrow from Texas. Department of Transportation spokesperson Erin Buchanan says they are ready to respond if wintry precipitation begins to fall…

Cut 12 (12) “…watching the forecast.”

A winter storm warning is in effect in northwest Louisiana and a winter weather advisory is in effect for areas like Monroe, Ruston, Coushatta, and Mansfield. Arkansas is expected to see snowfall, but depending on the temperature, Louisiana could see either rain, ice or snow. Buchanan says they are closely monitoring the forecast.

State climatologist Jay Grymes says central and south Louisiana will not see snow. However, there’s the threat of heavy rainfall tomorrow night through Friday for south Louisiana…

Cut 11 (06) “…rain in spots.”

All advisories, watches and warnings take effect at six tomorrow morning and expire at noon Friday.

The man who killed 14 people by plowing a pickup truck through a crowd on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day posted videos ahead of time detailing what he was planning to do. Senator Bill Cassidy says companies like Meta can use AI to analyze post in real time and notify law enforcement and says one company is already doing this.

Cut 5 (13) “…copyright, et cetera.”

Cassidy says social media companies should not have to be given the green light from Congress to share the information with law enforcement.

The Advocate reports that Hyundai Motor Group is planning a multibillion-dollar steel mill in Ascension Parish, to supply steel for its Hyundai and Kia vehicle assembly plants in the U.S. Hyundai aims to mitigate potential tariffs and reduce logistics costs by manufacturing its steel. Scott says the project reflects Governor Jeff Landry’s push for industrial growth.

Cut 8 (10) “…very very impressive.”