An early morning house fire in Slidell kills four, including two children. Slidell fire Chief Chris Kaufmann says it’s been a difficult and emotional morning for everyone involved.

Cut 5 (13) “…accidental fire.”

The victims have been identified as 33-year old Phoenix Lousteau, her husband 40-year-old Stephen Lousteau, and their daughters, Mackenzie age 10, and Payton age five.

The state reports 2,304 COVID patients in Louisiana hospitals and 144 of those patients are on ventilators. 13-thousand new cases were also added to the statewide total that eclipsed a million this week.  The department of health also reports that 52 new fatalities, 44 of the confirmed deaths are the most reported in one day since September.

Big changes weather-wise are coming to Louisiana. Shreveport National Weather Service Meteorologist Michael Berry says residents in the northern part of the state can expect freezing conditions tonight and areas near the I-20/I-49 corridor should miss out on winter precipitation, but areas to the south and southwest of Alexandria could see a dicey mix.

Cut 7 (12) “…Friday morning.” 

Congressman Garrett Graves announced that the federal government has committed more than $2.5 billion to help reinforce Louisiana’s hurricane and flood protection systems. Graves highlighted $128 million designated for the Comite Diversion project, which has been underway since the 1980s, he says this is a major, but long-delayed victory.

Cut 9 (5) “…get it finished.”

An early morning house fire in Slidell claims four lives, two were children. Fire Chief Chris Kauffmann says it’s been a difficult and emotional morning for everyone involved.

Cut 5 (13) “…accidental fire.”

The victims have been identified as 33-year old Phoenix Lousteau, her husband 40-year-old Stephen Lousteau, and their daughters, Mackenzie age 10, and Payton age five.

Americans can request four free at-home COVID-19 tests through the website COVIDtests-dot-gov. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Doctor Lucio Miele says you should not test for the sake of testing…
cut 15 (08) “….is critical”

Louisiana is preparing for a big change in temperatures as a major cold front will begin moving through the state this afternoon. National Weather Service Meteorologist Michael Berry says residents can expect freezing conditions beginning tonight.

 Cut 6 (22) “…lower 30s.” 

Berry does believe that the I-20/I-49 corridor should miss out on winter precipitation, but Central Louisiana and areas to the south and southwest of Alexandria could be impacted.

Four people including two children were killed in an overnight house fire in Slidell’s Eden Isles subdivision. Slidell Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann says they found an inoperable smoke detector and reinforced the message that smoke detectors are critical in warning people to get out in time.

Cut 4 (11) “…save lives.”

Kauffmann says they believe the blaze was accidental and it remains under investigation.

The Biden Administration’s Website to order free at-home COVID tests is officially open at COVIDtests.gov. There’s been a huge demand for home tests with Omicron and they are extremely difficult to locate. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Dr. Lucio Miele says better access to home tests is vital.

Cut 13 (08) “…limited worldwide.”

The website is COVIDtests.gov

Get ready for another blast of cold, wintery weather across Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Wednesday starts fairly mild, with sunshine and temperatures reaching into the 60’s and lower 70’s, but then…:

Cut 10 (12) “…at least a possibility.”

The cold front will linger and possibly bring dicey weather for south Louisiana Thursday night, Friday morning.

We’ve all heard of or might have even experienced a situation in which a homeowners association enforces its rules with one resident and not another leaving the homeowner with few options. Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis is filing legislation setting limits on an HOA’s authority.

Cut 7 (11) “…very important.”

Firefighters say four people were killed in an overnight house fire in Slidell’s Eden Isles subdivision. The fire was first reported around 1:30 in the morning and extinguished around 6 AM.  Slidell Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann.

Cut 24 were children :08

Three victims were found on the second floor of the home and the fourth on the first floor. One was pronounced dead on the scene and the other three at a local hospital.  An investigation is underway.

Get ready for another blast of cold, wintery weather. State Climatologist Barry Keim says today starts off mild, with sunshine and temperatures reaching into the 60’s and lower 70’s, but then…:
Cut 10 (12) “…at least a possibility.”
And the National Weather Service says a wintry mix is possible Thursday night to Friday morning for south Louisiana.

Tuesday was the first-day state lawmakers could file bills for a three-month-long legislative session that begins in March. One of the first bills filed was by Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis that would set limits on homeowners’ associations’ authority. Hollis says his bill would restrict an HOA from the overreach of taking away your right to protect your property and family.

Cut 9 (11)  “…particular family.”

Governor Edwards is asking all Louisianans to help beautify the state with the creation of his Task Force on Statewide Litter Abatement and Beautification. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, whose office will oversee the Task Force, says litter is also an economic development issue…

Cut 6 (14) “…our economy.”

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on all Louisianans to help beautify the state. Tuesday the Governor announced the creation of his Task Force on Statewide Litter Abatement and Beautification but says it will take all of us to make a difference…
Cut 4 (05) “…to play.”
The 26 member Task Force will give recommendations to the governor by July first on how to have a cleaner state.

Yesterday was the first-day state lawmakers could file bills for a three-month-long legislative session that will begin in March. One of the first bills filed was by Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis that would set limits on homeowners associations’ authority. Hollis says he doesn’t think any HOA regulations should get in the way of property owners protecting what they own…
cut 8 (11) “…are constitutional rights”

Today will be pleasant, but a strong cold front is on its way, which will drop our temperatures significantly. Much of the state is under a slight risk for severe weather today and then Thursday night into Friday morning, State Climatologist Barry Keim says a wintry mix is possible for the Bayou State…
cut 12 (10) “…through Alexandria”

Americans can now have four at-home COVID tests shipped to their household for free by providing their name and shipping address at COVIDtests-dot-gov. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Doctor Lucio Miele says you should only use a home test if you have symptoms and advises if you test negative to retest again in a few days because the rapid test has a high false-negative rate.
Cut 14 (07) “…on these tests.”
The website is COVID-tests-dot-gov.

Another blast of cold winter weather is coming our way. Is there snow, sleet or freezing rain in our future? Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Officials say four people were killed in an overnight house fire in Slidell. Very few details are known at this time.

St. Martinvile Police have made an arrest after a burnt human body and a dog were discovered by officers in the debris of a burned building. The suspect has been identified as Randal Romero and he’s been booked into the St. Martin Parish Jail.

Americans are able to order four free at-home COVID tests by providing their name and shipping address at COVIDtests-dot-gov. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Doctor Lucio Miele says better access to home tests is vital…
cut 13 (08) “…limited worldwide”
Miele says you should only use a home test if you have symptoms and advises if you test negative to retest again in a few days because the rapid test has a high false-negative rate.

We’ve all heard of or even experienced a situation in which a homeowners association enforces its rules with one resident and not another leaving the homeowner with few options. Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis has filed legislation for the upcoming session that would limit an HOA’s authority….
Cut 7 (11) “…very important.”
Hollis found himself in a situation with his HOA that prevented him from erecting a fence to protect his children from a neighbor’s webcam.

St. Tammany Firefighters say four people were killed in an overnight house fire in Slidell’s Eden Isles subdivision. The fire was first reported around 1:30 in the morning and extinguished around 6 AM. An investigation into a cause is underway.

One of the first bills filed for the 2022 regular session is one pertaining to homeowners’ associations. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It will be warm today, but a big change is coming as a strong cold front will begin to move through the state tonight, dropping our temperatures significantly…
cut 11 (10) “…pretty chilly day”
Keim says there’s a chance for freezing rain Thursday into Friday morning for south Louisiana.

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced a task force on statewide litter abatement and beautification. Edwards says the 26-member task force will make recommendations to the governor by July of this year, but he says Louisiana residents also have the power to reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in waterways, storm drains, and streets…
cut 5 (13) “…call home”

Get ready for another blast of cold, wintery weather. State Climatologist Barry Keim says today starts off mild, with sunshine and temperatures reaching into the 60’s and lower 70’s, but then…:
Cut 10 (12) “…at least a possibility.”
And the National Weather Service says a wintry mix is possible Thursday night to Friday morning for south Louisiana.

Americans can request four free at-home COVID-19 tests through the website COVIDtests-dot-gov. The White House says the tests will typically ship within seven to 12 days through the U-S Postal Service. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Genetics Doctor Lucio Miele says you should not test for the sake of testing…
cut 15 (08) “….is critical”

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana has reached a sobering milestone as the state health department reports one-million COVID cases since the pandemic started. Over 15-thousand Louisianians have died from the illness.

On another front, the governor wants to give litter the boot…
cut 1 (30) “….I’m David Grubb”

And today at 2:00 the governor takes your questions with his monthly Ask the Governor call-in show. You can hear it at louisianaradionetwork.com

The family of a Slidell woman, believed to have been decapitated in New Orleans, demands the suspect in the crime be denied bail. Julia Dardar’s dismembered body was found in a freezer at the home of local artist Benjamin Beale. He’s has been charged in her death. Julia’s estranged husband Micah Dardar this morning…:

CUT 09(06)      “…demented and demonic.”

Beal’s bond HAS been set, at $1.4-million. He is still in jail.

The National Weather Service says there’s the possibility of a wintry mix later this week. A strong cold front arrives overnight; bringing the potential for strong storms late Wednesday in north Louisiana. Meteorologist Kevin Owens says behind the front is very cold air and once the temperature gets close to the freezing mark, freezing rain is possible…:

CUT 12(11)      “…more information.”

Owens says tomorrow will start off as a mild day and then some of the coldest weather of the winter will arrive.

Physicians advise, if you are experiencing COVID symptoms, to assume you have the virus and stay home. It might not be COVID but Dr. Lucio Miele, Chair of the Department of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans says the PCR test is more accurate, but it takes several days to receive results. He says having both speed and sensitivity is a difficult combination in a test…:

CUT 04(08)      “…not possible.”

You can get a FREE package of four at-home COVID tests by going online to “covidtests.gov”

The state Health Department reports just over 29-thousand new case of coronavirus; the majority of them are the Omicron variant. Almost 2200 are in hospitals right now. Of those, about 73-percent have not been fully vaccinated.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a double murder in Metairie. JPSO spokesman Glen Boyd says the male victims were shot to death. They were found by a friend Monday night. An investigation is underway.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Gary Chambers, who is challenging Republican John Kennedy, releases a campaign ad that shows him smoking marijuana. Chambers says the goal of the ad is to destigmatize the drug and support legalization and decriminalization…:

CUT 06  (12)        “…just like me.”

Advocate reporter Tyler Bridges, who covers Senate races, says he’s never seen or heard of a candidate openly smoking weed in a campaign ad. Chambers is joined in challenging Kennedy by Bunkie Democrat Luke Mixon.

A 14-year-old girl in Franklin is under arrest; accused of making a bomb threat to the town’s junior and senior high schools. Police says the girl – whose name is withheld because she is a minor – faces charges of terrorizing and communicating false information of a planned bombing on a school.

Louisiana has surpassed one-million positive cases of COVID since the pandemic began in 2020. A little over 15-thousand have died during that time.

The estranged husband of a Slidell woman, whose dismembered body was found at a home in New Orleans’ 9^th Ward, is demanding the suspect be held without bond. Julia Dardar’s husband Micah says his wife suffered from addiction and mental health issues, and he knew she was hanging around suspect Benjamin Beale…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…too little, too late.”

Beale faces murder and obstruction of justice charges. Micah Dardar wants Beale denied bond, because he considers him a flight risk.

A private school in Clinton, in East Feliciana Parish, is under fire for changing Martin Luther King Day to “Great American Heroes Day” on its school calendar. After a spate of complaints and MANY negative social media posts, the Silliman Institute says it will ”review the manner in which we celebrate this day at our next Board of Directors’ Meeting, and are prepared to make necessary changes as we move forward.”