The state is trying to thaw out from record breaking cold. Chris Bannon with the National Weather Service says 40 year-old records were broken this morning in Baton Rouge and New Orleans….

Cut 5  (13)  “1977.”

Temperatures were reported in the low teens in north Louisiana this morning as well.

Governor John Bel Edwards says officials are very concerned about tonight’s cold temperatures as driving dangers on icy roads may remanifest themselves again…

Cut 13 (09) “freeze again”

Interstate 10 between Grosse Tete and Slidell are closed and the Mississippi River bridge will be shut down through at least tomorrow morning.   Numerous other interstates around Louisiana are also closed.  Drivers can check 5-1-1-L-A for the latest driving conditions…

The Wakefield Fire Chief died in the line of duty Wednesday morning. State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says 51-year-old Robert McCoy of Tallulah lost control of his vehicle on a curve and hit 48-year-old Russell Achord of St. Francisville while he was on the scene from an earlier accident. Lee says they will continue their investigation into the exact cause of the accident to see if speed or the loss of control of the vehicle was a factor…

Cut 17 (10) “as well.”

Cold temperatures claimed the life of a man in New Roads early Wednesday.  Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Bud Torres says they were notified by a neighbor that 84-year-old Paul Maker was found dead due to hypothermia in his home.  They had some space heaters, but weren’t running them overnight…

Cut 7 (09)  “below freezing.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as a result of this wicked winter weather. Edwards says 12-hundred DOTD employees have helped put one-point-five million pounds of salt on the roadways statewide. He says it is critical for everyone to stay off the frozen highways…
cut 12 (10) “…the hospital”

The icy conditions are likely responsible for the death of a south Louisiana fire chief. 48-year-old Russell Achord of St. Francisville was killed as he was responding to another accident on Highway 61 in West Feliciana Parish. State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says he was hit by 51-year-old Robert McCoy of Tallulah, who came around a curve…
Cut 16 (11) “Chief Achord.”

Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Bud Torres says freezing temperatures resulted in the death of an eldery New Roads man who was scared to use a space heater. Torres says the sad outcome shows people should check on their elderly neighbors during extreme cold weather…
cut 9 (11) “….to safety”
The victim’s wife has also been hospitalized as temperatures inside the home were in the 20s.

Louisiana continues to suffer through its worst flu season on record, with nearly 10 in 100 doctors visits in the last month for flu related symptoms. State Health Department Immunization Director Frank Welch says in his 20 years of doing this, he’s never seen so many cases
Cut 4 (06) “in Louisiana”
Welch says if you come down with the flu, isolate yourself.

For some Saints fans, it still might be hard to believe that the season is over. Quarterback Drew Brees says it’s disappointing, but hopefully a building block towards a future Super Bowl appearance….
cut 19 (12) “….be proud of”
Brees says it’s his hope he’s back with the Saints again next season. He can become an unrestricted free agent in March.

Former LSU great Kevin Faulk will reportedly re-join the program and work with the football support staff. The Advocate says his hiring would need approval from the SEC, because he’s currently an assistant coach at Carencro and can’t have any ties with current players or walk-ons.

McNeese announces Lance Guidry will remain the head coach of the Cowboys after talking with Florida State about becoming an assistant for the Seminoles. A-D Bruce Hemphill says he’s excited Guidry is staying.

Tough loss for the LSU Tigers last night as they fell to Georgia by one point. The Bayou Bengals are now 2-and-3 in the SEC and all three losses have come at home. LSU will now play three of the next four on the road. On Saturday, the Tigers visit Vanderbilt and then return home to face Texas A-and-M on Tuesday.

Nicholls State crushed Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 91-61 last night in Stopher Gymnasium. Senior Guard Tevon Saddler had 23 points as the Colonels got off to a big lead in the first half. Nicholls is now 6-1 in Southland play and in first place in the league. U-N-O is 5-1 in the Southland the Privateers host Central Arkansas tonight. Southeastern Louisiana is 4-1 and they take on Houston Baptist.

After beating the best team in the Eastern Conference record wise last night, the Pelicans will now try to beat the worst team in the league, the Atlanta Hawks. New Orleans has won three in a row and moved into sixth place in the Western Conference.

Temperatures went back above freezing this afternoon, but Chris Bannon with the National Weather Service says we’ll see another hard freeze tonight, which isn’t good for already iced over roads…

(Cut 6) (09) “over night.”

Governor John Bel Edwards issued a State of Emergency this morning.  He is urging people to stay home while DOTD crews get salt and deicing agents on the roadways to prevent refreezing…

(CUT 11) (10) “refreeze again.”

The Governor’s office says four people, including a first responder, have died as a result of the icy conditions.  Three fatalities are related to traffic accidents and the fourth death is from hypothermia in Pointe Coupee Parish.

Cars have been slipping and sliding all over icy roads today. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Many SWEPCO customers in northwest Louisiana are without electricity and heat.  SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says the heavy ice accumulation is the main cause of the power outages…

Cut 9 (12) “our outages.”

Louisiana Radio Network News, I’m Matt Doyle.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency.  Kelley Ray explains what that means…

Cut 2, 31 seconds, I’m Kelley Ray

The DOTD says that interstates that are still closed will remain closed until tomorrow.

Authorities say An 84-year-old Point Coupee man was found dead in his home this morning due to hypothermia. Paul Maker was pronounced dead on the scene after Deputies arrived at 11AM this morning after one of his neighbors called 9-1-1.

It was 20 degrees in the house when authorities arrived.

LRN

Needless to say the icy road conditions are something Louisianans are not familiar with, but there are still motorists out who are required to be at work. State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says based on the number of crashes they saw in a short period of time this morning, plenty of people can’t handle a vehicle on the ice…:

Cut 3

Lee says troopers responded to at least 40 crashes this morning.

This morning before 10am, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says an 8 month old child died, and its mother is in grave condition after their vehicle slid into a canal in Metairie from what authorities say appears to be the result of iced roads. DOTD Spokesman Rodney Mallett says He says even when the temperatures get above freezing, it make take a while for the roads to thaw out…:

Cut 16

Mallett says they will work to re-open the bridges and interstates as soon as it is safe to do so. No timetable has been announced yet.

LRN News

Some roads continue to be covered in ice but sections of Louisiana’s interstates remain closed due to treacherous conditions.  The Transportation Department’s Rodney Mallett says, despite all of the interstate closures, their crews have been working around the clock to make it to where at least some travel is possible…:

Cut 15 (11) “ferry all night”

A State of Emergency remains in effect for the state.  Governor John Bel Edwards says it was a tough morning for drivers to navigate and is concerned tonight’s cold temperatures could be a repeat of this morning…

CUT 13 (09) “freeze again.”

Temps will remain below freezing tonight and tomorrow night before rebounding for the weekend.

Baton Rouge drivers found roads in the capital city slicker than an ice skating rink.  State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says troopers responded to at least 40 crashes involving cars sliding off the roadways between 5 and 9am.   He says it’s advisable to stay at home if you can…

Cut 4 (09) “be patient.”

The Governor’s Office says 4 deaths are attributed to the cold snap.  A firefighter in West Feliciana Parish on Highway 61 near St. Francisville was killed after responding to an accident.  An eight month old baby died when the car her mother was driving slid off the roadway and plunged into a canal in Metairie.  The mother is listed in critical condition.  An elderly man died in Point Coupee Parish after suffering a fall and a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car while walking on the Highrise Bridge on    I-10 in New Orleans.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as a result of this wicked winter weather. Edwards says 12-hundred DOTD employees have helped put one-point-five million pounds of salt on the roadways statewide. He says it is critical for everyone to stay off the frozen highways…
cut 12 (10) “…the hospital”
A volunteer firefighter in West Feliciana Parish was killed this morning while working a crash. And in Jefferson Parish, an eight-month-old was killed when a car slid into a Metairie canal. Her mother is in critical condition.

There’s still a couple of inches of snow on the ground in north Louisiana. C-S Ross with the National Weather Service says that snow will stick around for a couple of days….
cut 8 (10) “…low to mid 40s”

Parts of all major interstates in Louisiana are closed because of the icy conditions. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 1 (32) “…reporting’

Thousands of SWEPCO customers do not have electricity. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says crews are working as quickly as possible to restore power, but can only work as fast as the weather allows…
cut 10 (11) “….restore power”

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency. Kelley Ray explains what that means.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

State Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says some roads appear easier to travel than they actually are…
cut 14 (09) “…dangerous situation”

The state fire marshal’s office says a firefighter in West Feliciana Parish was killed in the line of duty last night. The fireman was working a wreck on U-S 61 north of St. Francisville when he was struck by vehicle. His name has not been released.

Record lows were set in Baton Rouge and New Orleans this morning. Baton Rouge got down to 14-degrees, shattering a 41-year-old record. CS Ross with the National Weather Service says Shreveport and Monroe each recorded lows of 12-degrees…
cut 7 (08) “…1982”
Another hard freeze is expected late tonight and into tomorrow morning.

The state of Louisiana feels more like a frozen tundra today as record breaking cold temperatures were hit. Chris Bannon with National Weather Service in Slidell says temperatures will get back above freezing this afternoon, but we’ll see another hard freeze tonight, which is not good for icy roads…:
Cut 6 (09) “over night”
State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says based on the number of crashes they saw in a short period of time this morning, plenty of people can’t handle a vehicle on the ice…:
Cut 3 (11) “use caution”
This morning before 10am, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says a woman and child suffered very serious injuries when their vehicle slid into a canal.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a State of Emergency due to the hazardous winter weather conditions. He says it’s imperative that people stay home since DOTD crews have a short time to get salt and deicing agents applied to prevent tonight’s cold temperatures to refreeze the roads…:
Cut 11 (10) “refreeze again”
He says to also check 5-1-1-L-A for the latest driving conditions.

Thousands are without power today. Many SWEPCO customers in northwest Louisiana are without electricity and heat. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says the heavy ice accumulation is the main cause of the power outages…:
Cut 9 (12) “our outages”
Sullivan says crews are working as quickly as possible to restore power.

Temperatures are in the teens to the low 20s across the state at this hour. Robert Megnia (meg-knee-a), with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says it feels even colder outside because of a north wind at about 10 miles per hour…
cut 30 (08) “…nine degrees”
And in case you are wondering, this is record breaking cold. Chris Bannon with National Weather Service says 40 year-old records were broken in Baton Rouge and New Orleans….
cut 5 (13) “….1977”
Governor Edwards has declared a state of emergency because of the dangerous winter conditions. Edwards says over 1.5 million pounds of salt has been distributed and 12-hundred D-O-T-D employees have been working around the clock.

Thousands are without power today. Many SWEPCO customers in northwest Louisiana are without electricity and heat. SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says the heavy ice accumulation is the main cause of the power outages…
cut 9 (12) “…our outages”
Sullivan says crews are working as quickly as possible to restore the power, but the weather and slick roads are presenting a challenge.

UNO has conducted a poll to find who Louisiana voters would vote for in a hypothetical election between President Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey. 60-percent of respondents said they would vote for Mr. Trump and UNO pollster Ed Chervenak says 36-percent of black voters support the President over Oprah. He says that’s because Louisiana leans conservative…
cut 6 (07) “….the state”