With a spike in alcohol-related crashes, the weekend before Mardi Gras has been shown to be the deadliest of Carnival season on Louisiana Roadways, and this year, Super Bowl Parties are added to the Mix. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Governor Landry will provide an update today on his plan to deploy Louisiana National Guard troops to Texas to help with border security. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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The Landry administration presents its first budget to state lawmakers today. Jeff Palermo has this preview…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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For the past two years, the weekend leading up to Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras day have been the deadliest of Carnival season on Louisiana roadways as alcohol-related crashes increase says Don Redman with Triple A. He says during the 2022 and 2023 Carnival seasons over 600 alcohol-related crashes occurred — 311 with serious injuries.

Cut 4 (10) “…Mardi Gras Day.”

Louisiana Roadways on the Sunday before Mardi Gras show an increased number of crashes involving impaired drivers and this year, the Super Bowl falls on the same day. Redman says that nationally the game brings another layer of danger to the roads.

Cut 5 (11) “…Super Bowl.” 

Redman says with the large number of parade goers, you may not be able to get an Uber, Lyft, or Cab. And according to Redman, studies show that just two drinks for the average adult is enough to impair judgement so it’s important to have a plan before you head out to a parade or Super Bowl party.

Cut 6 (11) “…designated driver.”

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Governor Jeff Landry is expected to provide more details about deploying the Louisiana National Guard to the southern border at a press conference today at 11. Attorney General Liz Murrill says she supports Governor Landry’s idea of sending the National Guard to the border.

Cut 7 (10) “…states now.”

The cost of sending troops to the border would be around three million dollars.

Murrill says the Biden Administration is not properly managing immigration laws and it’s putting the lives of residents in Texas, Louisiana in jeopardy.

Cut 8 (11) “…really shocking.” 

The U-S Senate proposed a 118-billion dollar national security and border package but Republicans rejected it.

Murrill says some of the suggestions coming out of Washington DC will not stop people from entering the country from entering illegally from Mexico…

Cut 9 (09)  “…the border.”

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There was a fatal officer involved shooting in Caddo Parish on Wednesday. Sheriff Steve Prator says shots were fired as officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant to a male suspect, who was in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Prator says one of his deputies  Justin Dunn took a bullet.

Cut 10 (09) “…for that.”

The incident occurred on Pines Road before 2 pm when officers located the suspect in a car at the complex. When deputies tried to pull the suspect out of the car, that’s when Dunn was shot.

Prator says as many as six deputies and officers from multiple agencies responded. He says State Police is handling the investigation…

Cut 11 (11) “…somewhere else.” 

The suspect was wanted on murder, armed robbery, and home invasion charges.

Prator says this was unfortunate situation but the outcome could have been different…

Cut 12 (12) “…this person.” 

The name of the man who was fatally shot has not been released.

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The Landry administration will present a proposed spending plan to legislators today. The administration is projecting a 64-million dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s a manageable deficit

Cut 13 (08)  “…out of the budget”

The state is also facing a loss of 600-million dollars in state revenues when a temporary .45 cent sales tax expires in July 2025. Erwin says it’s possible the governor’s budget proposal will prepare the state for that fiscal cliff…

Cut 14 (10) “…or not.”

Landry is looking at ways to shrink state government. He’s asked Natural Resources Secretary Tyler Gray to develop a plan to merge D-N-R with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Erwin says such a move could be included in the governor’s budget plan…

Cut 15 (12) “…do that”

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The 13th ranked LSU women’s basketball team is at Vanderbilt tonight. The Lady Tigers are coming off a 106 point performance against Florida. Coach Kim Mulkey loved her team’s grit on Sunday, along with their toughness, energy and physicalness. She says they’ll need to be physical again tonight against the Commodores…

Cut 16 (16) “..game too.” 

Reserve point guard Last-Tear Poa had her best game of the season against an SEC foe on Sunday against Florida. Mulkey hopes to see more of that, because it also helps Hailey Van Lith…

Cut 17 (13) “…off guard some” 

Tip off is at 8 PM.

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Louisiana Tech added five players during the spring signing period, including high school football star from northwest Louisiana. Haynesville linebacker Alonzo Jackson chose the Bulldogs over Grambling, U-L Lafayette and UTSA. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says Jackson is a terrific athlete…

Cut 18 (18)  “..in December”

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The state’s top prospect for the Class of 2024 signed with the LSU Tigers on National Signing Day. Acadiana High’s Dominick McKinley is a consensus five-star prospect and considered one of the best defensive tackles in the country. It’s a position of need for the Tigers. Coach Brian Kelly says they still plan to add to that position group through the transfer portal…

Cut 19 (11) “…continue to grow” 

During a Wednesday press conference, Kelly also announced the addition of six players signed through the transfer portal, three defensive backs, two receivers and six-foot-three quarterback AJ Swann from Vanderbilt. Kelly likes that Swann has SEC experience…

Cut 20 (17) “…quarterback positon”

LSU will begin spring practice on March 5th. The Spring Game is April 13.

Governor Landry is expected to provide more details Thursday about a National Guard deployment to the southern border. It’s estimated it will cost the state three-million dollars. Senator Bill Cassidy says using state dollars to address a federal problem might not be the solution…
Cut 5 (07) “…135 million”
Cassidy says 135-million dollars is what it could cost the state to switch from open primaries to party primaries for federal elections.

Thursday the Landry Administration will submit a proposed budget for next fiscal year. In July 2025, a temporary sales tax will expire, resulting in a 600-million dollar loss in revenues. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s possible tomorrow’s budget proposal will begin to prepare for that fiscal cliff.
cut 14 (10) “…goes away or not”

The LSU football program put the finishing touches on its 2024 recruiting class today. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

New Iberia math teacher Christine Bayard is 25-thousand dollars richer as she received the Milen Educator Award….
cut 7 (09) “…just amazing”
The U-L Lafayette graduate teaches at Johnston-Hopkins Elementary.

U S Senator Bill Cassidy continues to question Governor Jeff Landry’s spending decisions. Cassidy said today he’s not a fan of spending three million dollars to send Louisiana National Guard troops to the U-S Mexico border. Cassidy has been very vocal about party primary elections that he says will cost the state 135-million dollars over ten years. Cassidy says that’s 138-million dollars that could go towards a new I-10 Lake Charles bridge….
cut 4 (12) “…that frustration”
Tomorrow the Landry Adminsitration will submit a proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts in July. In July 2025, a temporary .45-cent sales tax expires and that will result in a 600-million dollar loss in revenues. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s possible the budget the governor’s office presents will begin to prepare for that fiscal cliff.

Two Louisiana teachers won the Milken educator award, the nation’s preeminent teachers’ program. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Five-star defensive tackle Dominick McKinley from Acadiana officially signed with the LSU football team today. Because LSU is short on defensive tackles, McKinley could see the field right away. But the Tigers missed out on five-star athlete Terry Bussey as the Texas A-and-M commitment signed with the Aggies.

The Landry administration will present a proposed spending plan to legislators tomorrow. The administration is projecting a 64-million dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s a manageable deficit…
cut 13 (08) “….out of the budget”
But Erwin says in July 2025, 600-million dollars in state revenues will begin to fall off the books with the expiration of a .45 cent sales tax.

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy is once again not seeing eye-to-eye with Governor Jeff Landry as the senior senator opposes the idea of sending Louisiana National Guard troops to the U-S-Mexico border. Cassidy has concerns about the projected cost to the state…
Cut 3 (08) “…like Louisiana.”
Cassidy also does not support the state moving federal elections to party primaries in 2026. He says such a move will cost taxpayers an estimated 135-million dollars over ten years.

Southeastern Louisiana has deployed buoys on Lake Maurepas that will help monitor the water quality as Air Products plans to bury captured carbon emissions underneath the lake in southeast Louisiana. Director of the Lake Maurepas Monitoring program Kyle Piller says information will be posted at southeastern-dot-edu-forward-slash lake maurepas…
cut 11 (10) “….this lake

Two south Louisiana teachers were awarded $25,000 yesterday as they were recipients of the Milken Education Award. The winners were Christine Bayard and Derrick Winn. Bayard is a New Iberia match teacher and was recognized for transforming her classroom into real-world environments including outer space.
Cut 6 (12) “..the moon.”
Winn is a math and science teacher in Baton Rouge.

Governor Landry is expected to provide more details about a National Guard deployment to the southern border at a press conference tomorrow. It’s estimated it will cost the state three-million dollars. Senator Bill Cassidy says using state dollars to address a federal problem might not be the solution…
Cut 5 (07) “…135 million”
Cassidy says the 135-million dollar figure is what it will potentially cost the state to switch from open primaries to party primaries for federal elections starting in 2026.

Air Products plans to inject captured carbon emissions into the ground below Lake Maurepas in southeast Louisiana. There are concerns this could damage the lake. Southeastern Louisiana has deployed environmental buoys to monitor the water quality. S-L-U’s Kyle Piller…
cut 10 (13) “….entire project”

The LSU football program put the finishing touches on its 2024 recruiting class today. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state transportation secretary Shawn Wilson has a new job. He’s returning to the private sector as he’s been hired by W-S-P. The company describes itself as a leading engineering, environment and professional services consultancy. As the head of DOTD, Wilson oversaw more than five billion dollars in construction projects.

A teacher from Rapides High School is facing charges of Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile. Louisiana State Police say that Billy Pilgrim, 38, of Pineville, was arrested and booked into the Grant Parish Detention Center after an LSP Special Victims Unit investigation led them to Pilgrim. Pilgram’s Bond was set at $75,000.

U S Senator Bill Cassidy is not standing behind some of Governor Landry’s latest proposals saying three million dollars to send National Guard troops to the southern border, 135-million dollars for party primaries. He says that 138-million dollars could help proposed tolls for a new I-10 Lake Charles bridge….

Cut 4 (12) “…is necessary.”

Two Louisiana teachers won the Milken educator award, the nation’s preeminent teachers’ program. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Southeastern Louisiana University has deployed four research buoys to monitor the Lake Maurepas ecosystem. The goal is to see where the lake stands before Air Products begins its project to inject carbon emissions into wells deep beneath the lake. Director of Lake Maurepas Monitoring Program Kyle Piller…

Cut 9 (10) “…dioxide levels.”

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy is once again not seeing eye-to-eye with Governor Jeff Landry as the senior senator opposes the idea of sending Louisiana National Guard troops to the U-S-Mexico border. Cassidy has concerns about the projected cost to the state…
cut 3 (08) “…for Louisiana”
Cassidy also does not support the state moving federal elections to party primaries in 2026. He says such a move will cost taxpayers an estimated 135-million dollars over ten years.

Reducing crime in New Orleans is a focus of the Landry Administration. And under a new agreement with the Orleans D-A, the Louisiana Attorney General’s office has committed to taking on more cases in the Crescent City. Attorney General Liz Murrill says if her office can help increase the number of convictions, it will send a strong message.
Cut 15 (10) “…breaking it.”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested two 14-year-old girls from the Mandeville area for allegedly talking about shooting up the school to kill one of their teachers during a SnapChat Conversation. Lt. Suzanne Carboni…
cut 12 (08) “…to a parent”
Carboni says the girls homes were searched and no firearms were found.

Congratulations to Derrick Winn. He’s a third grade math and science teacher at Baton Rouge’s Crestworth Elementary School. He’s been awarded 25-thousand dollars by the Milken Foundation for his outstanding work as a teacher. Winn learned of his award during an entire school assembly…
cut 8 (12) “…very appreciative”
New Iberia’s Christine Bayard has also received the 25-thousand dollar Milken Educator Award.

A proclamation/executive order signed by Governor Landry states the Bayou State is in support of the oil and gas industry. President of the Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association, Tommy Faucheux….

Cut 4 (12) “…grow in Louisiana.” 

Landry has also signed an executive order that directs the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality to streamline the permitting process with the oil and gas industry

Two Louisiana teachers are $25,000 richer after receiving the national Milken Educator Award. After getting the surprise of her life, New Iberia math teacher, Christine Bayard, says her commitment to invest in education has paid off.

Cut 7 (09) “…just amazing.”  

Derrick Winn, a third-grade math and science teacher at Crestworth Elementary in Baton Rouge, was also recognized for his ability to captivate his young students.

LSU Health Shreveport and Volunteers of America North Louisiana are helping raise awareness and treatment for psychosis with their new EpiCenter. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Two teachers, Lynzi Parker and Claire Wallace, are being recognized by State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan Adams for saving lives of students and faculty at Baskin Elementary. The teachers used a fire extinguisher to put out a A/C unit that was on fire in the teachers lounge on January 12^th.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office will prosecute more cases in New Orleans as a result of a new agreement with Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams. AG Liz Murrill says their office already has five prosecutors handling cases out of New Orleans and they will now take on more cases…
Cut 13 (11) “…Attorney General’s Office.”

Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order that directs the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality to streamline the permitting process for oil and gas project. President of the Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association president Tommy Faucheux says this will allow the industry can grow, but not at the expense of the environment…
Cut 5 (11) “…its job.”

A Snap Chat conversation led to the arrest of two 14-year-old Mandeville area girls on Tuesday. Lt. Suzanne (Sue-zahn) Carboni of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says they were alerted to the conversation by the FBI
Cut 10 (07) “…they had.”
In a search of the girls’ homes no guns were found.

Two south Louisiana teachers earned the national Milken Educator Award and a cash prize of 25-thousand-dollars on Tuesday. The winners are Christine Bayard and Derrick Winn. Bayard is a math teacher in New Iberia and won the award for her innovative approach to transforming her classroom into real-world environments including outer space.
Cut 6 (12) “..the moon.”
Bayard teaches at Johnston-Hopkins Elementary. Meanwhile Winn teaches third grade math and science at an elementary school in Baton Rouge.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office will prosecute more cases in New Orleans as a result of a new agreement with Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams. Under the cooperative agreement, the A-G’s office will prosecute individuals arrested by State Police or if L-S-P was involved in the criminal investigation. Attorney General Liz Murril.

Cut 14 (11) “…hard to predict.”

Governor Jeff Landry signed a proclamation this week declaring Louisiana’ s Oil and Gas industry open for business this week.  As you may know, there’s been a big push to reduce carbon emissions across the country.  And Tommy Faucheaux, President of the Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association,  believes the oil and gas industry can play a big role in producing clean energy…

Cut 6 (06) “…in Louisiana.”

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Psychosis is a real medical condition that affects the brain, which is why LSU Health Shreveport and Volunteers of America North Louisiana have partnered to create a mental health program to provide psychosis treatment for youth and adults . While, psychosis and many mental disorders are misunderstood, Vice Chair of Psychiatry at LSU Health Shreveport Dr. Pamela McPherson says it’s important for all of us to recognize the signs and let them know help is available.

Cut 9 (12)  “…require.”
Sad news out of Kenner this week as an 18 year old became the city’s first homicide of 2024. Authorities say Melvin McClinton arrived at Ochsner Medical Center with gunshot wounds Monday afternoon. NOLA.com reports the car he was in had a shattered window and bullet holes in the doors. Kenner police believe the shooting happened in the 1600 block of 42^nd street. They’re asking anyone with information on the shooting to call CrimeStoppers .