The Biden Administration has begun rolling back many of the Trump Administration’s oil and gas policies. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The City of Bogalusa received welcome news this week when an over $50-million-dollar expansion was announced for International Paper. After a trend of paper mills closing over the years in the Washington Parish city, Mayor of Bogalusa Wendy Perrette says it’s welcome news.

Cut 4 (11) “…to stay.”

Crawfish harvests have been slow to start the year with pond temperatures still pretty cool but the season looks set to pick up steam shortly. LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley says while it’s been slow going so far he projects we will have a strong peak crawfish season this year.

Cut 13 (11) “….far away”

On the sales side, the pandemic is still likely to keep prices low.

Public school students in New Orleans will not return to in-person classes next week, due to the average daily number of coronavirus cases in Orleans Parish. School district officials will give an update on the 28^th.

The state is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the next fiscal year, barring a significant economic recovery or federal aid. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle”  

A Southeast Louisiana Fire Chief has passed away from COVID-19 complications. Chief Bruce Cutrer, of District #1 in Amite, died Tuesday. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said Cutrer dedicated his life to the people of the parish for more. Flags are at half-staff in his honor.

Julia Letlow has qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district, the seat that was won by her late husband Luke Letlow, who died of Covid-19 days before he was set to be sworn in. Republican Allen Guillory, who is also running, stated that Letlow taking office could be harmful to her children, but Julia believes it will be beneficial.

Cut 8 (10) “…serve others”

Qualifying ends on Friday.

So far, the most recent Public Affairs Research Council COVID dashboard indicates case numbers are on a downward trend. As for hospitalizations, the third surge well surpassed the second peak over the summer. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says but hospitalizations remain a concern in Lake Charles and Lafayette.

Cut 5  (11) “…facility” 

According to the most recent COVID-19 dashboard from the Public Affairs Research Council, the state is showing a downward trend in the positivity rate for COVI-19 tests. The positivity rate for the state, in the last three days, is 6.4 percent according to the PAR. President Robert Travis Scott says it’s a good indicator.

Cut 4 (12) “…eight weeks.” 

Julia Letlow, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s widow, has qualified to run in the special election for the 5^th District Congressional seat Luke won in December. He served as former Congressman Ralph Abraham’s chief of staff.  Julia says she watched how Luke handled himself and learned a lot.

Cut 7 (11) “…make a difference.”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warns we will likely face hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the fiscal year beginning in July. The Revenue Estimating Conference adopted this forecast ahead of the budget that will be presented in February. Dardenne says unfortunately the budget will have to include cuts to higher ed and healthcare.

Cut 9 (07) “…hit”

Beloved former Baton Rouge news anchor Donna Britt has died. Britt worked at WAFB until Lou Gehrig’s disease forced her to retire in 2018. Britt’s husband Mark Ballard says while most will remember the 62-year-old for talents as a news anchor, Ballard says he remembers a different side of her.

Cut 14 (15) ” life at home.” 

She’s survived by her husband and two children.

Julia Letlow has officially qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district, which her late husband won in December before passing away due to Covid-19. 

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”  

Since hitting a peak all-time high of 2,069 COVID patients in Louisiana hospitals on January 8^th, numbers have since dropped significantly to only 1,800. Other signs that the state’s third wave is starting to subside include a quickly dropping positivity rate on new tests, now down statewide to 6.4 percent.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warns we will likely face hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the fiscal year beginning in July. Dardenne says it’s tough to see our budget get slammed by the pandemic considering just a year ago it had been stabilized.

Cut 11 (10) “..education”

The Revenue Estimating Conference adopted a forecast drop of 228 million dollars.

Former Baton Rouge news anchor Donna Britt passed away early Thursday morning after losing her battle with ALS.  Britt worked for the CBS affiliate, WAFB, from 1980 all the way until 2018 when the illness forced her to retire.  Britt’s husband Mark Ballard says she was preparing her LSU Journalism Hall of Fame acceptance speech just a few months ago.

Cut 13 (11)“to the event.”

Julia Letlow has qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district of Louisiana, the seat that was won by her late husband Luke Letlow, who passed away from COVID days before he was set to be sworn in. Julia, who is an executive administrator at ULM, has never served in public office, but she says she has always had political aspirations.

Cut 6 (14) “..leap of faith”

According to the most recent COVID-19 dashboard from the Public Affairs Research Council, the state is showing a downward trend of cases, positivity rate, and hospitalizations. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says the numbers are encouraging.

Cut 3 (09) “…looking for.”

The most recent dashboard was data from January 7^th through the 20^th. 

The state is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the next fiscal year, barring a significant economic recovery or federal aid.

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle”  

Brittany Brees, wife of Saints Quarter Drew Brees, posted a heartfelt letter of support for her husband on her private Instagram account and said in addition to the QB’s injuries of 11 broken ribs and a collapsed lung, she indicated Brees may have also endured a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder and a torn fascia in his foot this season.

Julia Letlow has qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district, the seat that was won by her late husband Luke Letlow, who died of Covid-19 days before he was set to be sworn in. Republican Allen Guillory, who is also running, stated that Letlow taking office could be harmful to her children, but Julia believes it will be beneficial.

Cut 8 (10) “…serve others”

So far seven candidates have qualified.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warns we will likely face hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the fiscal year beginning in July. The exact number adopted at the Revenue Estimating Conference was a 228 million dollar drop, but Dardenne says it’s just too early to know what the real number will be given the economy’s volatility, and…

Cut 10 (08) “…enact that”

The most recent Public Affairs Research Council COVID dashboard indicates case numbers are on a downward trend. As for hospitalizations, the third surge well surpassed the second peak over the summer. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says but hospitalizations remain a concern in Lake Charles and Lafayette.

Cut 5  (11) “…facility” 

Former Baton Rouge news anchor Donna Britt passed away early this morning after losing her battle with ALS.  Donna worked for the CBS affiliate, WAFB, from 1980 all the way until 2018 when the illness forced her to retire.  Britt’s husband Mark Ballard…

Cut 12 (11) “…together” 

She was 62.

Julia Letlow, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s widow, has qualified to run in the special election for the 5^th District Congressional seat Luke won in December. He served as former Congressman Ralph Abraham’s chief of staff.  Julia says she watched how Luke handled himself and learned a lot.

Cut 7 (11) “…make a difference.”

Luke Letlow died of COVID-19 less than a week before he was set to be sworn in last month.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warns we will likely face hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the fiscal year that beginning in July. The Revenue Estimating Conference adopted this forecast ahead of the budget that will be presented in February. Dardenne says the budget will have to include cuts to higher ed and healthcare.

Cut 9, 7 seconds, hit

According to the most recent COVID-19 dashboard from the Public Affairs Research Council, the state is showing a downward trend in positivity rate for COVI-19 tests. The positivity rate for the state, in the last three days is 6.4 percent according to the PAR dashboard. President Robert Travis Scott says that’s an indicator we are on the downside of the most recent surge.

Cut 4 (12) “….eight weeks.” 

As for hospitalizations, the PAR dashboard shows levels in the third surge well surpassed the second peak over the summer. The peak was 2,069 on January 8^th.

According to the most recent COVID-19 dashboard from the Public Affairs Research Council, the state is showing a downward trend of cases, positivity rate, and hospitalizations. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says the numbers are encouraging.

Cut 3 (09)  “…looking for.”

The most recent dashboard looked at data from January 7^th through the 20^th. 

Julia Letlow has qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district the seat that was won by her late husband Luke Letlow, who died of Covid-19 days before he was set to be sworn in. Julia, who is an executive administrator at ULM, has never served in public office, but she says she has always had political aspirations.

Cut 6 (14) “…leap of faith.”

Five other candidates have also qualified.

The regular legislative session begins in April and Winnfield Representative Jack McFarland says he still plans to bring a proposal to lawmakers to raise the state’s gasoline tax as an effort to improve highways…
cut 14 (07) “…the table”
McFarland says his proposal would call for a ten-cent gas tax increase in the first year and a gradual increase of another 12-cents through 2033.

A Confederate monument in Lafayette was damaged, with several holes punctured from its head to jaw and half of its nose taken off and missing. It’s not clear when the damage happened to the Confederate Gen. Alfred Mouton statue It was first noticed Tuesday night, but The Daily Advertiser reports authorities were unaware when reporters questioned about it. Police are now investigating the incident.

Julia Letlow has qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district of Louisiana, a seat that was won by her late husband Luke Letlow. Julia says that she has watched how her husband handled himself and learned what it takes to make a difference while in office.

Cut 7 (07) “…public servant.”

Five others have also qualified.

If you’ve been married for 60 or more years, the Louisiana Family Forum wants to hear your story for this year’s Longest Married Couple award

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Qualifying continues today for the two Congressional races that will take place in March. six people have signed up for the 5th district race. Republican Julia Letlow, officially qualified this morning, Democrat Candy Christophe says Julia Letlow’s entrance into the race didn’t deter her from qualifying…

Cut 12 (10) “…lightly.”
Allen Guillory of Opelousas who said he’s concerned Julia Letlow winning would deprive her two young children of both of their parents, He says he told her that…

Cut 13 (09) “….a job.” (2x)
Chad Conerly, Horace Melton III and Sancha Smith have also qualified for the 5^th Congressional District. Christophe is the only Democrat so far.

The election is March 20th and qualifying ends tomorrow.