Things were nightmarish last night, especially for 45 people who were stuck on Interstate 20 in Bossier and Webster parishes for up to eight hours after commercial vehicles jackknifed. State Trooper Brent Hardy says multiple agencies were needed to assist those trapped overnight.

Cut 4 (13) “…stranded.” 

Northwest Louisiana continues to get hammered by a combination of frigid temperatures and a messy mix of sleet and snow.  Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says roads have been declared “unpassable” which means they are drivable but dangerous. Chadwick says thankfully most residents are playing it safe.  

Cut 7 (08) “…point”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins announced much of the city could be without water for the next 48 hours.

All roads in Beauregard Parish and LA Highway 10 in Allen Parish have been deemed impassable due to the ongoing winter storm.  State Police Trooper Derek Senegal says despite the hazardous road conditions they are seeing an uptick in traffic coming into the region from across the Texas border.  

Cut 10 (12) “…warmth” 

Designating a road “impassable” means officials highly discourage non-emergency travel. 

A mobile home fire in Washington Parish claims the life of a 53-year old man and is the 13^th person to die in a house fire in the state this year. The State Fire Marshal’s office says a relative went to check on how a mobile homeowner was doing in the bitter cold and found the Franklinton home on fire Monday afternoon.  The cause of the blaze has not been determined, but improper wiring or unsafe smoking may have contributed.

Northwest Louisiana is getting hammered by a combination of frigid temperatures and a messy mix of sleet and snow.  Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins announced much of the city could be without water for the next 48 hours. Caddo Parish Sheriffs spokesperson Cindy Chadwick… 

Cut 6 (09) “…town.”

City and parish roads have been declared “unpassable” which means they are drivable but dangerous. 

All roads in Beauregard Parish and LA Highway 10 in Allen Parish have been deemed unpassable due to the ongoing winter storm.  

State Police Trooper Derek Senegal says yesterday the sun melted much of the ice along those roads, but… 

Cut 9 (12) “…roadway.”

Designating a road “unpassable” means officials highly discourage non-emergency travel along it. 

A 15 mile stretch along I-20 East in Bossier and Webster Parishes is closed after commercial vehicles jackknifed last night causing approximately 45 motorists to be trapped. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

The state reports 179 new COVID cases and 66 fatalities. Multiple testing facilities have been closed due to inclement weather.

Another winter storm is hitting Louisiana producing a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to most of the state north of Interstate 10. Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted there have been several deaths related to people slipping and falling on ice. The state health department says one of the fatalities involved a Calcasieu Parish man who slipped on the ice, fell in a pool, and drowned.

In northwest Lousiana, about 45 people were trapped in their vehicles for eight to ten hours last night as a result of multiple accidents on a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 20 in Bossier and Minden Parishes. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy…
cut 3 (11) “…five six mile back-up”
Hardy says there were no serious injuries and Bossier City firefighters helped get the trapped motorists home or to local hotels.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning of the potential for fish kills resulting from this historic cold spell we’re in. Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says anytime the temperature drops to near or below freezing for an extended period of time, vulnerable species are put at risk.
Cut 7 (08) “…small.”

It’s been cold in southeast Louisiana. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if farmers took proper precautions, the cold temperatures should not jeopardize the strawberry crop….
cut 14 (10) “…bounce back”

And when will it warm up? State Climatologist Barry Keim says we need to wait a few days…
cut 12 (06) “…the weekend”

Snow, sleet and freezing rain is falling over most of Louisiana today. North of I-20 is getting more snow and much of Louisiana is seeing freezing rain, which is leading to treacherous roads. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is somewhat reminiscent of the last hurricane season, back-to-back systems hitting the state, but instead of a month apart its days apart…
cut 11 (11)”…for it”
The forecast calls for over a quarter of an inch of ice over north and central Louisana and freezing rain is also falling in southwest Louisiana north of I-10.

It was another cold morning in southeast Louisiana. So how is the strawberry crop doing? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers should be able to salvage the berries…
cut 15 (09) “…forward”

This historic deep freeze has state Wildlife and Fisheries officials worried about large scale fish kills. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

It’s Ash Wednesday one of the more prominent Catholic and Lutheran holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…
Cut 4 (07)“…do that.”
Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today, but with the roads situation, it will be difficult for many to get their ashes.

More winter weather is hitting the state today. Snow is falling north of I-20, it’s sleet south of Louisiana is being impacted by freezing rain. Multiple accidents are being reported across the state, even in the New Orleans area. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll get above freezing in south Louisiana, but it will remain cold…
cut 12 (06) “….the weekend”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning the public about the potential for fish kills due to freezing temperatures. Inland freshwater ponds and waters are not expected to be at risk, but Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says fish in coastal marsh areas with shallow waters are at risk.
Cut 8 (09) “…kills.”
Banks says redfish, black drum, and white trout, and spotted seatrout are most at risk.

Last year’s Ash Wednesday was one of the last major religious holidays celebrated before the pandemic struck. Matt Doyle spoke with an expert about how COVID has impacted the religious community since then…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

It was a quiet Mardi Gras Day, because of the pandemic and the cold weather. It was 26-degrees in New Orleans, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s not the coldest Mardi Gras day ever. He says on February 14, 1899 the temperature hit 22 degrees in New Orleans on that Fat Tuesday.

A second winter storm is impacting Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (09) “…Thursday morning”
Radar indicates it’s snowing north of I-20, sleet is falling just south of I-20 and most of western Louisiana is experiencing freezing rain. Patchy light freezing drizzle is also occurring in southeast Louisiana which has caused multiple accidents in the New Orleans area.

It’s also Ash Wednesday as many Catholics and Lutherans will attempt to get their ashes at either church or drive-through services. The pandemic has resulted in fewer people attending church, but LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier (Pass-kay) says in some cases the virtual church services have resulted in more people participating in religious activities…
cut 5 (10) “…services”

The state department of wildlife and fisheries is concerned about fish kills throughout coastal Louisiana as a result of the freezing temperatures. Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says coastal species impacted by low water temperatures are redfish, black drum, and white trout, along with other popular species…
cut 9 (10) “…biomass”
If you spot a fish kill, alert the department of wildlife and fisheries.

What about crawfish and this cold weather? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says cold temperatures do cause the mudbugs to go into almost a dormant-like state and bury themselves deep in the water, but he’s hopeful we’ll still have a good crawfish season…
cut 13 (09) “….pattern”

A second punch from Old Man winter is hitting the state today. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 3 (30) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Entergy and Cleco had to do rolling black outs last night in south Louisaina to reduce demand on the grid. And the radar indicates freezing rain is falling in south Lousiana and portions of north Louisiana. Sleet and snow is falling along the I-20 corridor and parishes north of that interstate.

It’s cold in southeast Louisiana too this morning. Temperatures on the northshore are in the mid to upper 20s. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if farmers took proper precatutions, the cold temperatures should not jeopardize the strawberry crop….
cut 14 (10) “…bounce back”

It’s Ash Wednesday and many Catholics across Louisiana are reflecting on a year of worship under the New Normal. Ash Wednesday is one of the more prominent Catholic and Lutheran holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…
Cut 4 (07)“…do that.”
Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain is once again falling across the northern half of the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is somewhat reminiscent of the last hurricane season, back-to-back systems hitting the state, but instead of a month apart its days apart…
cut 11 (11)”…for it”
Less than an inch of snow is epected to fall in Shreveport, Minden and Monroe, but the forecast calls for over a quarter of an inch of ice and periods of freezing rain will also fall in Cenla and light freezing rain is also possible in southwest Louisiana this morning.

It’s another cold morning in southeast Louisiana. So how is the strawberry crop doing? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers should be able to salvage berries…
cut 15 (09) “…forward”

This historic deep freeze has state Wildlife and Fisheries officials worried about large scale fish kills. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Today is Ash Wednesday one of the biggest days of the year for certain religions. Church attendance has suffered during the pandemic, but LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier (Pass-kay) expects physical attendance at houses of worship to bounce back…
cut 6 (08) “….can”

Last year’s Ash Wednesday was one of the last major religious holidays celebrated before the pandemic struck. Matt Doyle spoke with an expert about how COVID has impacted the religious community since then…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

_______________________________

This historic deep freeze has Wildlife and Fisheries officials worried about the possibility of fishkills in vulnerable populations. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

____________________________

The second punch of a winter storm this week is about to cross the state, and you can trace its origins off the Louisiana coastline. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

____________________________

It’s Ash Wednesday and many Catholics across Louisiana are reflecting on a year of worship under the New Normal.  

Ash Wednesday is one of the more prominent Catholic holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…

Cut 4 (07)“…do that.”

Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today.

Some in the religious community expressed concerns the state ordered limits or earlier closures of churches pushed people out of the faith, but Pasquier says…

Cut 5 (10)“…services.”

Despite the popularity and ease of virtual services Pasquier expects physical attendance at houses of worship to bounce back strongly once the pandemic ends.  

Cut 6 (08) “…can.”

________________________

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning of the potential for fish kills resulting from this historic cold spell we’re in.

Office of Fisheries Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says anytime the temperature drops to near or below freezing for an extended period of time, vulnerable species are put at risk.

Cut 7 (08)  “…small.”

Banks says the fish kills can appear just days after a freezing event but many times can take a week or more to start floating to the surface.

Inland freshwater ponds and waters are not expected to be at risk, but Banks says fishing living in coastal marsh areas with shallow waters are at risk right now.

Cut 8 (09) “…kills.”

Banks says redfish, black drum, and white trout are at risk, along with one of the most popular species…

Cut 9 (10) “…biomass.”

If you spot a kill please contact LDWF with the details.

_____________________________

The wintery mix the Bayou State received at the beginning of the week will serve as a genesis for a second system that will eventually move up the east coast. But according to State Climatologist Barry Keim before it exits the state it will leave its mark with lots of rain in the southern half of the state.

Cut 10 (11) “…morning.”

Keim says for north Louisiana its somewhat reminiscent of hurricane season last year with back-to-back systems hitting the state, but instead of a month apart its days apart.

Cut 11 (11) “…for it.”

Once this second-round wintery precipitation leaves the state on Thursday and eventually becomes a Nor’easter, Keim says don’t put away your winter coat away yet.

Cut 12 (06) “…the weekend.”

_____________________________

While the cold may be affecting road, pipes, plants and pets, there is one thing it’s not damaging and that’s crawfish. While the cold temperatures do cause the crustaceans to go into almost a dormant-like state and bury themselves deep in the water, Ag Commission Mike Strain says it’s alarming.

Cut 13 (09) “…pattern.”

As the state’s strawberry crop, Strain says if farmers took precautions ahead of the storm it shouldn’t jeopardize the state fruit.

Cut 14 (10) “…bounce back.” 

Strain says if the freeze did reach the strawberry crops most likely it’s only done only external damage to the plant and farmers should be able to salvage berries.

Cut 15 (09)“…forward.”

______________________________________

Many major throughways are still closed across Louisiana as the deep freeze continues. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle”  

For up to date road closures you can visit 511LA-dot-org and if you are in a traffic related accident or need to notify state police of a dangerous situation dial star LSP. And Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announces state offices will be closed tomorrow. This applies to nonessential employees including those authorized to work from home.

This winter weather has been responsible for at least three deaths in Louisiana. a 50-year old man slipped on the ice in Carencro and died of a head injury Monday. And Lafayette Police Sergeant Wayne Griffin says 74-year-old Mary Guillory died after leaving a residence at around 1 AM this morning…

Cut 7 (07) “…extreme weather condition”

It’s believed she suffers from dementia. In Shreveport, The Hope House, which is a homeless day shelter, says a homeless man died last night as he was found in single-digit temperatures slumped over a brick wall.

Another winter storm warning kicks into effect tonight for much of north Louisiana. National Weather Service Meteorologist C-S Ross in Shreveport says an ice storm is on its way…
cut 11 (10) “….developing”
South Louisiana will see mostly rain tomorrow morning.