Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto has called a 2 PM press conference to discuss Saturday’s shooting at a gun range that resulted in three deaths and two others injured. Investigators say the shooting started when 27-year-old Joshua Williams of New Orleans started an argument with store staff. Williams was killed, so was a store clerk and a customer.

A Bienville Parish man was fatally shot Sunday morning by a truck driver after allegedly attempting to break into his 18-wheeler. Bienville Sheriff John Ballance says 35-year-old Jonathan Raney of Ringgold kicked in the front door of a liquor store, then targeted a nearby semi…
Cut 9 (12) “…window out”
Ballance the driver fired four shots and Raney was taken to Ochsner LSU Health where he died. No charges have been filed against the driver.

Louisiana officials are asking residents who suffered damage during last week’s winter weather to report it, as the state plans to submit that information to the federal government. Taylor Sharp has more
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp.”

A strawberry farmer in Livingston Parish says the winter weather cost him between 30 to 35-percent of his crop. Trey Harris says consumers could see higher prices for strawberries, but he says Louisiana is not the only one having issues…
cut 8 (09) “…volume”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is seeking information via survey on damage.la.gov from anyone who sustained damage from the winter weather, which could potentially lead to federal assistance.  GOHSEP Spokesperson Mike Steele says filling out a survey will help speed up the recovery process.

Cut 3 (11)  “…recovery process” 

Strawberry farmers are surveying crops after last week’s winter storm and it appears 30 to 35 percent of the crop is lost according to one farmer. Owner of Harris Farmers in Springfield, Trey Harris says despite covering the berries, the length of the storm impacted the crops.

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Harris says the peak of the season is mid-April giving farmers time to salvage their season.

Teacher unions are celebrating as K-12 educators can receive a COVID vaccine starting today. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated today, there’s been some public concern the vaccine can affect fertility, but West Jefferson Medical Center OBGYN Doctor Jennifer Bigelow says there’s no evidence that it does…

cut 6 (08) “….future.”
Bigelow says the COVID vaccine is also safe for pregnant mothers.

Nearly half a million additional Louisianans are eligible for the COVID vaccine starting today and that includes over 50,000 K-through- 12 teachers. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says even with vaccinating teachers’ education won’t return to normal until the pandemic ends, but this does help facilitate more in-person teaching.

Cut 8 (12) “..safe”

Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated for COVID in Louisiana today. West Jefferson Medical Center OB/GYN Dr. Jennifer Bigelow says being pregnant puts you in a higher risk group if you contract COVID.

Cut 5 (10)“…progressed.”

Bigelow is recommending pregnant women be vaccinated along with the CDC and ACOG.

Louisiana suffered the nation’s largest spike in drug overdose deaths in the period between July 2019 and July 2020. That’s according to data from the C-D-C. Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich (Sah-tan-oh-vitch) says it was a 53 percent increase in overdose deaths, 1,720 in total. Cvitanovich says it was largely driven by increased use of opiates like Fentanil.

Cut 11 (09) “..potent”

One lawmaker is hoping to change the state motto in the next legislative session. St. Tammany Parish Representative Richard Nelson wants “We Live and Die for Those We Love,” to be the new state proverb.

Cut 13 (10) “…the seal.”

Nelson says the current state motto of “Union, Justice and Confidence” is not very well known even though it appears on the state flag.

Starting today, teachers can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter…
cut 9 (09) “…vaccine”

Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated, but some wonder is it safe to do so?
cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Louisianans aged 55 to 64 years old can also get the vaccine if they have certain health conditions.

Louisiana has experienced the largest spike in drug overdose deaths in the country. That’s according to data from the C-D-C. Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich says drug overdose deaths have been rising the last seven years, despite optimism it would slow.
Cut 10 (08) “…down.”
Instead, the state saw a 53-percent increase in overdose deaths between July 2019 and July 2020, 17-hundred Louisiana residents O-D during that period.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson has filed a bill for the regular session that begins in April that would change the state’s motto from Union, Justice and Confidence to We Live and Die for Those We Love. Nelson thinks that’s a more appropriate motto, but is not pushing to remove the current motto entirely…
cut 15 (05) “…over time”
Nelson says it’s only appropriate when new state buildings are constructed that the motto be used, and current structures are not altered.

Jefferson Parish authorities continue to investigate Saturday’s shooting at a gun range that resulted in three deaths and two others injured. The three people who died are 27-year-old Joshua Williams of New Orleans, 47-year-old Noah Fiscbach, a store clerk, and 59-year-old Veronica Billiot who was at the store to pick up a gun she previously purchased. Investigators say the shootout started when Williams got into an argument with the store staff.

The C-D-C says Louisiana had a 53 percent increase in drug overdose deaths between July of 2019 and 2020 compared to the previous year.
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

K-through-12 teachers, daycare staff, some people with health conditions, and pregnant women are among the 475-thousand people who are now eligible to receive the COVID-vaccine. There’s some public concern the vaccine can affect fertility, but West Jefferson Medical Center OBGYN Doctor Jennifer Bigelow says there’s no evidence that it does…
cut 6 (08) “….future”
Bigelow says the COVID vaccine is also safe for pregnant mothers.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson has filed a bill for the upcoming session to change the state’s motto from Union Justice and Confidence to We Live and Die for Those We Love. Nelson says he was first intrigued by the slogan when it appeared on his law degree and he’s also seen it on state landmarks…
cut 14 (06) “…capitol”
The legislative session begins April 12th.

Several Shreveport-Bossier neighborhoods are dealing with low or no water pressure and Natchitoches Mayor Ronny Williams Junior has declared a state of emergency in an effort to get residents to conserve water.

Still waiting for more information from Jefferson Parish authorities on Saturday’s shooting at a gun range that resulted in three fatalities and two people injured.

Teachers can get the COVID-19 vaccine starting today. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Pregnant women are also among the 475-thousand people who become eligible today for the COVID-19 vaccine. But there are expectant mothers who question whether the vaccine is safe? West Jefferson Medical Center OB/GYN Dr. Jennifer Bigelow says talk to your personal physician first, but she recommends it.
Cut 4 (08)“…vaccine.”
COVID vaccine clinical trials for pregnant women are currently underway to gather more data.

One lawmaker is hoping to change the state motto in the upcoming legislative session. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson wants “We Live and Die for Those We Love,” to be the new state proverb.
Cut 13 (10) “…the seal.”
The current state motto is “Union, Justice and Confidence.”

The winter weather has left, but northwest Louisana is still dealing with water issues. Shreveport officials expect water to be fully restored by tomorrow. Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams Junior has declared a water emergency.

In Jefferson Parish, we are waiting for more details on what happened at the Jefferson Gun Outlet in Metairie on Saturday where three people were fatally shot and two others injured. Investigators say a 27-year-old man got into an argument with staff which led to a shootout.

New C-D-C data finds Louisiana saw the largest increase in drug overdose deaths from July 2019 to July 2020. About 17-hundred people died during that time span, a 53-percent increase from the year before. Jefferson Parish coroner Doctor Gerry Cvitanovich says a lot has been done to fight the addiction epidemic domestically, but the potent drugs are still pouring in from Mexico and China…
cut 12 (07) “…people” (2x)

Nearly half a million additional Louisianans are eligible for the COVID vaccine starting today and that includes K-through- 12 teachers. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says this will go a long way towards getting education back to some sense of normalcy.
Cut 7 (07) “…open.”

Pregnant women are also eligible to be vaccinated, but some wonder is it safe to do so?
cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Temperatures will get into the 40s in north Louisiana today, which should melt away most of the ice from the slick roads, bridges, and overpasses. Meanwhile, gas prices are on the rise and some areas are reporting fuel shortages because deliveries have been delayed. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman…
cut 5 (10) “…get it delivered”

During an interview with a Washington Post columnist, Governor John Bel Edwards said it was unfortunate the Lafayette City Council voted against a local mask mandate and said the vote shows a failure of leadership. Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory responded by saying the governor has failed to enforce the state’s mask mandate.

The state reported 34 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, but the number of hospitalized COVID patients has fallen to 806.

Additional 475-thousand Louisiana residents will be eligible to get vaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday. Brooke Thorington has more from Governor Bel Edwards…
voicer 1 (29) “…Brooke Thorington”

As Brooke said, K-through-12 educators are eligible for the vaccine starting on Monday. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says this will go a long way towards getting education back to some sense of normalcy….
cut 7 (07) “…open”
Residents can call 2-1-1 for a vaccine provider near them.

With temperatures dropping below freezing this morning, roads remain very slick in areas where snow and ice are still on the ground. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says it will take several hours of temperatures above the freezing mark before the highways are free of ice. Wilson also defends the state’s response in trying to keep the roads open. He says they had 14-hundred workers, primarily in north Louisiana before the storm arrived, salting and brining major roads
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There are many Louisiana residents upset with their power company too as a result of the lengthy outages and rolling blackouts. Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says they will investigate how utility companies handled the winter storms…
cut 11 (09) “…same mistakes”

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline increased another three-cents overnight to $2.30. The price at the pump has just jumped nearly ten-cents in the last week and Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says this is the type of spike we typically see during hurricane season…
cut 3 (10) “….screeching halt”
Redman says gas prices may increase by another 10-to-15 cents in the coming days.

On Monday, another 475-thousand Louisianans will become eligible for the COVID vaccine. Edwards says the winter storms caused delays in vaccine deliveries and administering doses, so he’s urging those looking to be vaccinated to be patient.
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For a list of participating vaccine providers go to CovidVaccine.LA.Gov or call 211.

The Public Service Commission is planning to investigate just how the power situation went so wrong across much of the state this week. Matt Doyle has more.
cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”

Cleco reports this morning that about eight thousand of its customers remain without power. Most of those outages are in Rapides and Avoyelles Parishes. Entergy Louisiana is reporting 18-thousand outages. And there’s a freezing fog advisory in effect this morning for all of north Louisiana and as far south as Vernon parish.

State Police and the state department of transportation are warning motorists of black ice this morning in areas of the state where snow and ice are still on the ground. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says DOTD has used three and a half million pounds of salt and thousands of gallons of brine in an effort to keep the interstates from becoming too slippery…
cut 14 (13) “…in trouble”
Wilson says the snow and ice should melt away later today as temperatures will get into the low to mid-40s in north Louisiana.

The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline has jumped up to $2.30 and Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says motorists can expect prices at the pump to keep going up….
cut 4 (10) “…month ago”