Phase One of the 183 million dollar I-10 widening and refurbishing is complete. Taylor Sharp has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”  

Governor John Bel Edwards will be one of the few people allowed into tomorrow’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Edwards left for D.C. Monday and will be joined in the nation’s capital by 174 Louisiana National Guard soldiers and airmen joining the 25,000 Guard strong security force.

Starting in April Alexandria International Airport will begin offering direct flights to Charlotte, good news for military serving at Fort Polk who have friends in Fort Bragg or Fort Jackson. England Airpark, Alexandria International Executive Director Sandra McQuain says Alexandria has been running about twice the national average for traffic throughout the pandemic, and that’s getting people’s attention.

Cut 11 (08) “…ago”

An Amite man died and two others are in critical condition after an early morning head-on collision on LA 16 in St. Helena Parish. State Police Trooper Jeremy Price says the fatality has been identified as 69-year-old Clarence Griffin…

Cut 12 (11) “…head on” 

Price says the driver of that truck that struck Mr. Griffin was 65-year-old Terry MacDonald.

The state Capitol in Louisiana will be closed tomorrow quote out of an abundance of caution while President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn-in to office in DC. The Advocate reports a memo from the Louisiana Speaker of the House and Senate President says the building will be closed tomorrow regarding the unknowns of the federal inauguration. Governor Edwards in DC to attend the inauguration.

American Airlines will now be offering direct flights out of Alexandria International Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina. England Airpark, Alexandria International Executive Director Sandra McQuain calls it a big win for Cenla…

Cut 9 (12) “..Louisiana”

The flights will make it easier for military stationed at Fort Polk to connect with their colleagues at North Carolina bases like Fort Bragg and Fort Jackson

Officials cut the ribbon today on the first of three phases in the 183 million dollar I-10 widening project. State Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says once the entire project is completed it’ll be a big boon to economies in that corridor, and make for smoother hurricane evacuation.

Cut 8 (12) “…harms way”

The project was completed with 10 million dollars in federal FAST START funds.

New Iberia Police are investigating a double homicide that claimed the lives of two 16-year-olds. New Iberia Police Sgt Daesha Hughes says when police arrived, they found the two males in the roadway with gunshot wounds Sunday night.

Cut 3 (09)  “…for both.”

Both were pronounced dead on the scene and their identities have not been released and the case remains under investigation.

New Iberia Police are investigating a double homicide that claimed the lives of two 16-year-olds.  Sgt Daesha Hughes the teens apparently shot each other simultaneously at close range Sunday night. She says when police arrived, they found the two males lying in the roadway. As for a motive, Hughes says it’s under investigation.

Cut 4 (07) “….one another.” 

The victims’ names have not been released.

Officials cut the ribbon today on the first of three phases in the 183 million dollar I-10 widening project. State Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says the near 55 million dollars on the first phase of construction is money well spent, repaving roads first paved in the 1950s…

Cut 7 (12) “…Louisiana.”

The Biden Administration will push to implement a federal minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour, up from the current federal minimum of 7.25 an hour. Louisiana is one of five states to not raise its minimum above the federal. The National Employment Law Project reports 27 states and municipalities have increased their minimum to 15 an hour. Louisiana Budget Project head Jan Moller says it hasn’t resulted in overall job losses…

Cut 9 (11) “…economy.”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry opposes the increase. VP of Governmental Relations Jim Patterson says it would result in lost jobs and increasing the minimum wage would hurt American companies’ ability to compete internationally, thus result in higher prices for goods and services.

Cut 10 (04) “…of it”

It is likely the increase would be phased in over a number of years, but an exact timeline has not yet been revealed.

New Iberia Police are looking for a motive after two 16-year olds apparently shot and killed each other at close range. New Iberia Police Sgt. Daesha Hughes says they don’t know if the teens knew each other and both were declared dead on the scene Sunday night. She says the community is both saddened and angry over the deaths want answers.

Cut 5  (09) “…had guns” 

The victim’s names have not been released.

Republicans are asking Senate Democrats to cancel President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, citing that Trump will already be out of office when the trial begins. House Minority Whip and Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise says the trial would be poking fingers in the eyes of millions of Americans who oppose the impeachment of President Trump at a time when leaders should be toning down the rhetoric.

Cut 12 (06) “.put out.”

Governor John Bel Edwards traveled to DC Monday, to attend the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris. 174 members of the Louisiana National Guard are also in DC to ensure the peaceful transfer of power after the January 6^th riot.

Phase One of the 183 million dollar I-10 widening and refurbishing project is complete. Taylor Sharp has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”  

And organizers of Jazz Fest announce the first weekend of the festival will be October 8^th. The festival was canceled last year due to COVID restrictions.

Officials cut the ribbon today on the first of three phases in the 183 million dollar I-10 widening project. State Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they widened a stretch from LA 347 at the intersection of I-10 all the way to the Atchafalaya Basin to three lanes.

Cut 6 (11) “..stretch”

The project also included two roundabouts and drainage improvements on LA 347.

New Iberia Police are investigating a double homicide that claimed the lives of two 16-year-olds. Sgt Daesha Hughes says when police arrived, they found the two males lying in the roadway with gunshot wounds on Sunday night.

Cut 3 (09)  “…for both.”

Both were pronounced dead on the scene and their identities have not been released.

Republicans are asking Senate Democrats to cancel President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, citing the fact it isn’t set to happen until after Trump leaves office. House Minority Whip and Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise voted against impeachment in the House and says the trial would be a distraction…

Cut 11 (09) “.country”

If the trial is held Trump will be the first President to ever be taken to an impeachment trial after he leaves office, and the only President to be impeached twice.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has completed repair work and upgrades to one and a quarter miles of levee and beach in Grand Isle that was destroyed last year by hurricanes. CPRA Chief Engineer Rudy Simoneaux says the work created 30 acres of beach that sits 4.5 feet above sea level…

Cut 15 (11)“…today.”

New Iberia Police are investigating a double homicide that claimed the lives of two 16-year-olds New Iberia Police Sgt Daesha Hughes says when police arrived they found the two teens lying in the roadway Sunday night.

Cut 24 for both :09

Both were pronounced dead on the scene and their identities have not been released.

Republicans are asking Senate Democrats to cancel President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial because Trump will have already left office by the time the trial begins. House Minority Whip and Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise says Congress needs to be investigating how the January 6^th attack on Capitol Hill went so far, and whether Congressional leaders turned down additional security that day…

Cut 13 (10) “….it did”

The Biden Administration will push to implement a federal minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour, up from the current federal minimum of 7.25 an hour. Louisiana is one of five states to not raise its minimum above the federal. The National Employment Law Project reports 27 states and municipalities have increased their minimum to 15 an hour. Louisiana Budget Project head Jan Moller says it hasn’t resulted in overall job losses…

Cut 9 (11) “…economy.”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry opposes the increase. VP of Governmental Relations Jim Patterson says it would result in lost jobs and increasing the minimum wage would hurt American companies’ ability to compete internationally, thus result in higher prices for goods and services.

Cut 10 (04) “…of it”

It is likely the increase would be phased in over a number of years, but an exact timeline has not yet been revealed.

President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial is set to take place after he leaves office, the first time that’s ever happened. Matt Doyle spoke with a leading Republican who opposes the effect…

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

A weekend shooting claims the lives of two 16-year-olds in New Iberia. New Iberia Police Sgt Daesha Hughes says the teens reportedly were shooting at each other close range simultaneously Sunday night. Hughes says they found the bodies of the two teens lying in the roadway and both were pronounced dead on the scene. Their identities have not been released.

LSU Board of Supervisors member Collis Temple Junior says the university should look at ending its relationship with Rouses Supermarkets because of co-owner Donald Rouse’s participation in a pro-Trump rally before the riot on the U-S Capitol. It’s unclear if LSU will end its business relationship with the grocery store chain. Temple believes not doing so would send the wrong message…

Cut 6 (10) “…..social fabric”

Donald Rouse says he attended the rally but was in his hotel when Capitol was stormed.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority completes repair work and upgrades to one and a quarter-mile of levee and beach in Grand Isle that was destroyed last year by hurricanes. CPRA Chief Engineer Rudy Simoneaux says it was a big project.

Cut 16 (11) “…beach”

Their work created 30 acres of beach that sits 4.5 feet above sea level

An LSU Board of Supervisors member believes the school should end its sponsorship agreement with Rouses supermarket. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards will attend the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden in DC tomorrow.  Edwards issued a statement saying he’s grateful to all of the people working to keep the Inauguration safe, from law enforcement to members of the National Guard, and especially the 174 members of Louisiana’s National Guard who volunteered to protect our nation’s capital to ensure the peaceful transfer of power. They are our nation’s unsung heroes and real patriots.

Republicans are asking Senate Democrats to cancel President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, citing that Trump will already be out of office when the trial begins. House Minority Whip and Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise says the trial would be poking fingers in the eyes of millions of Americans who oppose the impeachment of President Trump at a time when leaders should be toning down the rhetoric.

Cut 12 (06) “.put out.”

Scalise says Congress needs to be investigating how the January 6^th attack on Capitol Hill went so far.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has completed repair work and upgrades to one and a quarter-mile of levee and beach in Grand Isle that was destroyed last year by hurricanes. CPRA Chief Engineer Rudy Simoneaux says the work created 30 acres of beach that sits 4.5 feet above sea level…

Cut 15 (11)“…today.”

The Biden Administration will push to implement a federal minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour, up from the current federal minimum of 7.25 an hour. Louisiana is one of five states to not raise its minimum above the federal. Louisiana Budget Project head Jan Moller says the minimum hasn’t increased in 12 years and we’re past due for 15 dollars an hour…

Cut 7 (12)  “…over.”

Moller says the increase to 15 dollars an hour will result in a raise for roughly half of all Louisiana workers if you account for the pay bump that would likely occur for people at or just over 15 now. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry opposes the increase. VP of Governmental Relations Jim Patterson says it would result in lost jobs.

Cut 8 (09) “…work.”

It is likely the increase would be phased in over a number of years, but an exact timeline has not yet been revealed.

LSU Board of Supervisors member Collis Temple Junior says the university should look at ending its relationship with Rouses Supermarkets because of co-owner Donald Rouse’s attendance at the pro-Trump in DC on January 6^th.  Donald Rouse said he attended the rally to protest election results but was at his hotel room when the Capitol was stormed. Temple says he’s concerned about the image of a business executive from a major advertiser being at that rally…

Cut 5 (11) “…its sponsors.”

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has completed repair work and upgrades to one and a quarter-mile of levee and beach in Grand Isle that was destroyed last year by hurricanes. CPRA Chairman Chip Kline….

Cut 14 (10) “…2020.”