The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports an estimated 280 million fish were killed in inland waters due to Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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For the first time since 2004, the LSU athletic department lost money. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (32)…I’m David Grubb.”  

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In addition to property damage, an estimated 280 million fish were killed in inland water in Louisiana due to Hurricane Ida. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Inland Fisheries Fish Kill Coordinator Robby Maxwell says while the numbers are alarming it’s a regular occurrence with storms.

Cut 3 (10) “…south Louisiana.”

By comparison, an estimated 200 million were killed after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Maxwell says the inland waters of the fish kill from Ida spanned 1.8 million acres. And from a storm in size similar to Ida, with Laura in 2020, Maxwell says they saw an area of about 9 million acres of fish kill.

Cut 4 (13) “…and sitting.”

Fish kills are a result of high winds and storm surges that create low-oxygen conditions. Maxwell reminds fishing enthusiasts that there are plenty of areas of the state that have fish and Louisiana will remain the Sportsman’s Paradise.

Cut 5 (11) “…of years.”

For more information about or to report fish kills to visit LDWF’s website.

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A 65-year-old Church Point woman becomes the 13th person to die from a home fire in Louisiana this year. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says they are investigating the cause of the deadly blaze that took place this morning in the Acadia Parish town…

 Cut 6 (11) “…escape the home.” 

Rodrigue says an official cause of the fire remains undetermined but they are looking at several potential causes including an electrical manufacturing related to house wiring…

Cut 7 (11) “…unattended candle.” 

Rodrigue says the home also lacked working smoke detectors…

Cut 8 (07) “…save lives.”  

Rodrigue says Operation Save A Life can help provide a home with working smoke alarms. Go to the State Fire Marshal’s Office website for more information.

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The LSU athletic department lost money during the 2021 fiscal year. While revenues were down nearly $39 million, Tiger Rag-dot-com editor Adam Hunsucker says it could have been worse…

Cut 9 (11) “…9.6 million.”

One of the most impacted areas was giving, as LSU saw a 52 percent decrease in donations to the athletic department. Hunsucker says that purse strings tightened during the pandemic, but boosters will be back.

Cut 10 (14)  “…will be better.” 

After several layoffs, pay reductions, and other staff and cost-cutting measures during the downturn, Hunsucker sees signs that LSU is regaining its financial strength.

Cut  11 (15)   “…be better”

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State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says the Omicron surge has peaked in Louisiana, but there’s still a lot of COVID circulating in the state. But Kanter says the number of COVID cases will remain high for the next few weeks…

Cut 12 (07) “…we are now.”  

The Louisiana Health Department reported another 75-hundred new COVID cases today. The highest percentage of new cases is from northwest Louisiana, which is 16-percent. Statewide, nearly 20-percent of the new cases are among those 5 to 17.

Kanter says it will take a few weeks before we see significantly lower number of new daily COVID cases…

Cut 13 (10) “…person to person”

Kanter says he’s optimistic the state is heading in the right direction in the fight against the Omicron variant…

Cut 14 (11)  “…week prior.” 

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12^th-ranked LSU takes on Arkansas tonight, looking to rebound after their one-point loss at Florida. The Razorbacks come in hot, having won three of four including back-to-back routs of Alabama and Mississippi State. Arkansas plays small and shoots a lot of threes, having made an SEC-high 177 this year. Tigers coach Kim Mulkey understands the challenge for her big frontcourt.

Cut 15 (18) “…all over the floor.” 

Data about the different kinds of damage done by Hurricane Ida continues to come in. State Wildlife & Fisheries report some 280-million fish killed in inland waters by the storm. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01  (33)        “…Brooke Thorington.”

A Livingston Parish couple are in jail for allegedly robbing local dollar stores. Deputies say they hit a Dollar General Wednesday and robbed a Dollar Tree store about ten days earlier. They’re both being held pending bonds of a 100-k each.  (What did they expect to get from a dollar store?)

A house fire in the Acadia Parish town of Church Point claims the life of a 65-year-old woman, making her the 13^th die in a fire so far this year. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says an official cause of the fire remains undetermined but they are looking at several potential causes; including an electrical wiring problem…:

CUT 07(11)      “…an unattended candle.”

A Caddo Parish grand jury returns an indictment for the woman accused of tossing two of her kids off a bridge over Cross Lake last September. One of Ureka Black’s children survived, one didn’t. She’s now formally charged with 2^nd-degree murder and attempted murder.

Folks in St. Tammany Parish were scratching their heads this morning at a huge presence of local law enforcement and FBI units in Mandeville. Mandeville cops say the FBI was conducting a “law enforcement action”, and there is no threat to the general public.

A 65-year-old Church Point woman becomes the 13th person to die from a home fire in Louisiana this year. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says they are investigating the cause of the deadly blaze that took place this morning in the Acadia Parish town…

 Cut 6 (11) “…escape the home.” 

Rodrigue says the home also lacked working smoke detectors.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces the resignation of Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Adren Wilson who has led the Office of Programs and Planning within the Office of the Governor since 2018. Wilson has been named the new executive director of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance in the Obama Foundation. He will begin his new post in March.

And the state reports 75-hundred new COVID cases, 48 fatalities and 2,187 hospitalizations, that’s a decrease of 23 from Wednesday.

An estimated 280 million fish were killed in inland water in Louisiana due to Hurricane Ida. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Inland Fisheries Fish Kill Coordinator Robby Maxwell says by comparison, an estimated 200 million were killed after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Maxwell says the inland waters of the fish kill from Ida spanned 1.8 million acres. And from a storm in size similar to Ida, Laura in 2020 had an area of about 9 million acres in Louisiana of fish kills.

Cut 4 (13) “…and sitting.”

In addition to property damage, an estimated 280 million fish were killed in inland water in Louisiana due to Hurricane Ida. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Inland Fisheries Fish Kill Coordinator Robby Maxwell says while the numbers are alarming it’s a regular occurrence with storms.

Cut 3 south Louisiana:10

By comparison, an estimated 200 million were killed after Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport is one of 400 sites conducting clinical trials for an oral medication to prevent COVID for those who are exposed by someone in their household. Principal investigator Dr. Joseph Bocchini (Bo-key-nee) Jr. says the trial is looking for qualified participants to look at
efficacy and dosage…:
Cut 11 (10) “be needed”
He says this is a critical advance in outpatient treatment of COVID.

The app LinkedIn is known for creating connections in the professional world and now a new app, BoomNation, wants to do the same for the trade industry…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

WBRZ in Baton Rouge is reporting an LSU student has been arrested for allegedly using the anonymous app YikYok to make a post about an active shooter at the dining hall on campus. LSUPD was made aware of the post on Monday and investigators were able to track the threat to 18-year-old Dominic Moore. He faces one count of terrorizing, which is a felony.

The Caddo Parish DA’s office charges 33-year old Ureka Rochelle Black with murder and attempted murder in connection with a September 24^th incident in which her were two children were allegedly thrown into Cross Lake. The 10-month-old child died as a result and his 5-year old brother survived. A conviction would bring an automatic life sentence.

Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport is one of 400 sites conducting clinical trials for an oral medication to prevent COVID illness for those who are exposed to the virus by someone in their household. Principal investigator Dr. Joseph Bocchini (Bo-key-nee) Jr. says this is a critical advance in outpatient therapy.

Cut 10 (12) “…management of COVID.”

For more info visit Willis-Knighton’s website and search COVID clinical trials.

D-C Mardi Gras activities get underway today as one of the biggest social events of the year for the nation’s capital returns after a one-year hiatus because of COVID. Governor John Bel Edwards will be in attendance and LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says however several high-profile elected leaders are skipping the event this year…

Cut 14 (11)  “..vaccine requirement.”

Closer to home State Wildlife & Fisheries’ is encouraging you to “Get Out and Fish” today. LDWF spokesperson Danica Williams says 17 sites were stocked with adult-size rainbow trout before dawn at the following ponds.

Cut 8 (13)  “…in Minden, Louisiana.”

Ages 16 and older must have a valid Louisiana fishing license.

Washington D-C Mardi Gras returns after a one-year hiatus. David Grubb has more on the popular business and social event…:

The app is free for job seekers.

The app LinkedIn is known for creating connections in the professional world and now a new app, BoomNation, wants to do the same for the trade industry…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

WBRZ in Baton Rouge is reporting an LSU student has been arrested for allegedly using the anonymous app YikYok to make a post about an active shooter at the dining hall on campus. LSUPD was made aware of the post Monday and investigators were able to track the threat to 18-year-old Dominic Moore. He faces one count of terrorizing, which is a felony.

Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport is one of 400 sites conducting clinical trials for an oral medication to prevent COVID for those who are exposed by someone in their household. Principal investigator Dr. Joseph Bocchini (Bo-key-nee) Jr. says the trial is looking for qualified participants to look at
efficacy and dosage…:
Cut 11 (10) “be needed”
He says this is a critical advance in outpatient treatment of COVID.

State Wildlife & Fisheries’ annual “Get Out and Fish” events start today where rainbow trout has been stocked in select ponds across the state. LDWF spokesperson Danica Williams says this is a great time of year to cast a line:
Cut 9 (12) “ready to go”
Check locations near you online at “wlf.la.gov”; click on Get Out and Fish!

Willis-Knighten Health System in Shreveport is looking for clinical trial participants to help with a medication to treat COVID..:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

DC Mardi Gras events get underway today and LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says this is a gathering of a Who’s Who in state politics but it’s not all about partying…:
Cut 15 (08) “consultants”

Four friends in the blue collar trade industry who had trouble finding qualified workers have reached out the the brainchild of the popular Waitr app, which was founded in Louisiana. Chris Meaux says they launched an app called BoomNation which is free for job seekers and allows them to search for work…:
CUT 4 (10) “those trades”
BoomNation also has the ability for skilled workers to showcase their work and display photos of their greatest hits.

State Wildlife & Fisheries’ annual “Get Out and Fish” events start today. LDWF spokesperson Danica Williams says 17 sites will be stocked with adult-size rainbow trout; a colder water fish uncommon to Louisiana waters…:
Cut 7 (06) “they’re good eating”
Check locations near you online at wlf.la.gov.

The Willis Knighton Health System in Shreveport is one of 400 sites in the US researching a pill to prevent Covid in people who have been exposed by someone in their house, and they are looking for participants to be part of the study. The Principal investigator is Dr. Joseph Bocchini (Bo-key-nee) Jr…:
Cut 10 (12) “management of COVID”
The Pfizer medication being used has already received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for those who are more susceptible to severe COVID complications.

D-C Mardi Gras activities get underway today as one of the biggest social events of the year for the nation’s capitol returns after a one-year hiatus due to covid. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford…:
CUT 13 (08) “from Louisiana”
He says it’s also a major networking event among elected officials.

The Lake Charles founder of the popular Waitr app has joined an effort to help easily connect skilled trade workers to employers through their smartphone. Christopher Meaux says the app is called BoomNation…:
CUT 5 (10) “they have”
BoomNation was created by a group of friends with roots in the blue-collar trades who wanted to come up with a way businesses could easily find skilled workers in a challenging labor market.

The woman who blew a whistle on sexual misconduct at LSU, then filed a $50-million lawsuit against them has been fired by the university. Sharon Lewis had a high-ranking position in the Tiger Athletics department. She alleges harassment at the hands of former football coach Les Miles. LSU says it can’t comment on specific personnel actions but noted there have been several “reassignments and departures” within the last month.

TigerRag.com broke the news Tuesday that Sharon Lewis, LSU associate athletic director of football recruiting and alumni relations, was fired from the school, months after she filed a lawsuit against the University. Here’s Brooke Thorington.

Cut 2 (30)…”I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Edwards has earmarked funds for pay raises for Louisiana’s teachers and support staffers in his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposed raises of $1500 for teachers and $750 for support staff, could increase if the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes additional funds. Louisiana Association of Educators President, Dr. Tia Mills is looking forward to the session.

Cut 5 (06) “…educators.”

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With mobile sports wagering set to begin this Friday morning at 8 a.m., the Louisiana Gaming Control Board says it’s ready to go in the 55 parishes that voted for gaming last November. Participating sportsbooks will go online just before the busy NFL championship weekend, with the Super Bowl just two weeks away.

After getting a late start with casino gambling, Board Chairman Ronnie Johns is proud that Louisiana has gotten the jump on our neighbor to the east.

Cut 8 (11) “…ahead of Mississippi.”

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US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is stepping down from the bench. Though his replacement won’t change the court’s conservative majority, Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says naming Breyer’s replacement is time-sensitive for progressives and Democrats.

Cut 12 (11) “…by the Senate.”

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