New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard is the first Democrat to enter Louisiana’s US Senate race. Fayard has never held political office, but did run for Lt. Governor in 2010. Fayard says she’s running for the Senate because she doesn’t want the rest of the country to take Louisiana for granted and that starts in Washington, D.C….

cut 3 (10) “to the table”

A release from her campaign describes Fayard as a “pro-life, pro-business Democrat.”

The Republican Party of Louisiana’s “Red to the Roots” campaign is an effort to identify, engage, and register new conservative voters across Louisiana. Executive Director Jason Dore says although the number of Republicans registering to vote is increasing, they’re not comfortable with some recent trends in voter registration…

cut 7 (07) “for granted”

He says it’s important to the Republican Party to have as many conservative voters registered in the state as possible.

In figures released Thursday, over 214,000 Louisiana residents signed up for health care coverage this year under the Affordable Care Act. That’s an increase of about 28,000 from last year. The open enrollment period ended Sunday. Nationwide, approximately 12.7 million people signed up or renewed their health insurance this year through the federal insurance marketplace.

Of course, Mardi Gras festivities are huge in New Orleans, but southwest Louisiana has some great celebrations of their own. Meghan Hartman with the Lake Charles Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau says every year the festivities get bigger and bigger in the region. She says, this Mardi Gras, the Society of American Travel Writers is coming in for a convention and to join in the celebrations…

cut 12 (07) “festivities”

She says they’re proud of the fact their parades are family friendly and people travel from all over to attend.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to issue the call for a special legislative session today. Republican legislators have expressed interest in making cuts that go beyond what Governor Edwards has suggested to close the state’s budget deficit. But LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says many lawmakers also realize that higher taxes are inevitable…

cut 6 (11) “spending reforms”

A three-and-a-half week special session is expected to start on February 14th.

The first Democrat has entered Louisiana’s US Senate race. New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard has announced her plans to run for Senator David Vitter’s soon-to-be vacant seat. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Fayard will need a little help from the Republican candidates in the race…

cut 15 (08) “becoming governor”

Pinsonat says we’ll have wait to see if other Democrats jump in the race.

Southwest Louisiana kicks off Mardi Gras this week with a variety of parades and events. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 3 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Many football fans in Louisiana will be cheering on New Orleans native Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the Super Bowl Sunday. Newman High School football coach Nelson Stewart, who played with Manning for the Greenies, says their entire school is getting together for a massive pep rally at 10 where they’ll be cheering and passing out orange and blue beads…

cut 18 (05) “even more”

The Super Bowl kicks off at 5:30 Sunday.

New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard is the first Democrat to get in Louisiana’s US Senate race…

cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state Fire Marshal’s Office says a six-year-old girl is dead after a mobile home fire in Rapides Parish. They say 6-year-old Jocelyn Ruiz was unable to escape the fire in her Deville home. A 12-year-old sister, who suffered second and third degree burns, was transported to an area hospital. The child’s mother, 35-year-old Patricia Ruiz, and another 8-year-old sister were not seriously hurt. It has been determined that a space heater near a sofa played a factor in the fire.

New Orleans is not the only place to celebrate Mardi Gras in the state. Southwest Louisiana has some great celebrations of their own. Meghan Hartman with the Lake Charles Southwest Convention and Visitors Bureau says people travel from all over to attend Mardi Gras celebrations there.

cut 11 (09) “entry fees”

This weekend in Lake Charles there’s a Cajun gumbo cook-off, a community zydeco dance, The Krewe of Barkus Parade, and a children’s parade.

The Republican Party of Louisiana’s “Red to the Roots” campaign is an effort to identify, engage, and register new conservative voters across Louisiana. Executive Director Jason Dore says it’s important to the party to have as many conservative voters registered in the state as possible…

cut 9 (10) “talking to”

He says the campaign will put permanent boots on the ground in Louisiana with a primary focus of registering conservative voters.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to call for a special legislative session very soon, possibly today. Jeremy Alford, with la-politics-dot-com, says Republicans in the legislature are pushing the governor to include in the call, opportunities where significant budget cuts can be made…

cut 5 (09) “as well”

Republican legislators have expressed interest in making cuts that go beyond what Governor Edwards has suggested.

The Republican Party of Louisiana has launched their “Red to the Roots” campaign to register new conservative voters across the state. Executive Director Jason Dore believes this effort will not only help the GOP in this year’s presidential and US Senate elections, but in future elections as well…

cut 8 (10) “for then”

He says the party will spend $2 million on the campaign.

The first Democrat has thrown her hat in the upcoming US Senate race and it’s New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Fayard’s chances of winning would be increased if she’s the only major democrat in the race…

cut 14 (07) “for her”

Fayard unsuccessfully ran for Lt. Governor in 2010.

Everyone knows Mardi Gras festivities are huge in New Orleans, but southwest Louisiana has some great celebrations of their own. Meghan Hartman with the Lake Charles Southwest Convention and Visitors Bureau says Lake Charles has the second biggest Mardi Gras in the state. She says they’re proud of the fact their parades are family friendly…

cut 10 (10) “there’s parades”

Hartman says every year the festivities get bigger and bigger in southwest Louisiana.

We are expecting Governor John Bel Edwards will issue the call for a special legislative session very soon, possibly today. Jeremy Alford, with la-politics-dot-com, says the call outlines which tax measures the governor will ask legislators to vote on, to help close a 750-million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year

cut 4 (10) “income tax brackets”

A three-and-a-half week special session is expected to start on February 14th.

Several republicans are running in Louisiana’s US Senate race and now we have our first Democrat. New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard, who unsuccessfully ran for Lt. Governor in 2010, has announced she’s looking to replace outgoing Senator David Vitter. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says we’ll wait to see if other Democrats get in…

cut 13 (07) “just her”

It’s been rumored Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell will also run for US Senate.

The Republican Party of Louisiana has launched their “Red to the Roots” campaign. The initiative is an effort to identify, engage, and register new conservative voters across Louisiana. Executive Director Jason Dore says although the number of Republicans registering to vote is increasing, they’re not comfortable with some recent trends in voter registration…

cut 7 (07) “for granted”

As of February 1st, there are 1.3 million registered Democratic voters in the state, 828,000 Republicans, and 756,000 Independent/Other Party voters.

New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard, who once ran for Lt. Governor, is the first Democrat to get in Louisiana’s US Senate race. Fayard joins a crowded field of republican candidates. It’s also been rumored that Democrat and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell will also get in the race.

Governor John Bel Edwards released a column today outlining why he feels cuts to higher ed and healthcare are not the answer to the budget woes. But Republican House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says, in the face of the $750 million dollar shortfall, nobody likes cuts but unfortunately they’re necessary…:
CUT 4 (11) “looking at”
He believes legislators will look at cuts first and do what they can to reduce the size of government. A special session is expected to start on Valentine’s day to address the state’s budget crisis.

A six-year-old girl was killed in a three-bedroom mobile home fire in the Rapides Parish town of Deville. Her 12-year-old sister was also seriously injured in the blaze that started while the family was sleeping. Investigators believe a space heater may have caused the fatal fire.

The state department of transportation is trying to determine what other safety measures are needed at a railroad crossing in Iberia Parish that saw five people die in a train-versus-vehicle crash last December. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says their study involves observing traffic volumes, the speed of vehicles crossing the tracks and additional reports…
cut 14 (10) “…features here”
Mallett says gates were installed at the crossing over ten years ago and there’s also a sign warning drivers not to stop on the tracks.

Get ready for cold night. Low temperatures will be near the freezing mark across the state tomorrow morning.

Governor John Bel Edwards released a column today saying the budget does not need to be fixed by cutting higher ed and healthcare, but Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry says he want to look at reducing spending before raising taxes. He thinks Republican lawmakers are willing to work with Governor Edwards, but they need to know what the detailed budget plans are..:
cut 5 (05) “any steps”
He believes legislators will exhaust every measure possible to reduce the size of government before raising taxes.

Three Louisiana regions, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport-Bossier, are in the Top 10 of the best places to live and work as a moviemaker. Executive Director of Louisiana’s Film Office Chris Stelly says there are many films and show projects going on right now in the state…:
CUT 11 (09) “in Shreveport”
He says the moviemaker.com ranking proves the film industry in Louisiana is alive and well.

The plea deal entered by former Saints star Darren Sharper in New Orleans to charges he drugged and raped women, is imploding according to a legal filing. Sharper pleaded guilty last year and agreed to a nine-year federal prison sentence in a so called “global deal.” Legal Analyst Tim Meche says it looks like the judge isn’t committing to the prison terms. He says this is bad for Sharper who has already admitted to being a serial rapist…:
CUT 8 (09) “good for him”
The joint motion by Sharper’s attorneys and the US Attorney asked the judge to postpone a March 7th trial date.

There were no signs of working smoke alarms in the home fire which investigators say claimed the life of a 6-year-old in Rapides Parish overnight. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says another child, aged 12, suffered significant burns in the blaze. The mother and another child were able to escape.

And today, New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard becomes the first Democrat to enter this year’s US Senate Race.

Governor John Bel Edwards says cuts to higher ed and health care are not solutions to the budget crisis. Eric Gill spoke with House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry to see what he thinks..:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Eric Gill”

New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard announces her bid for this year’s US Senate race — becoming the first Democrat to do so. Fayard ran and did not beat Jay Dardenne in the lieutant governor’s election in 2010. Also running for the spot in the November 8th race are Republicans State Treasurer John Kennedy and US Representatives Charles Boustany and John Flemming and retired Air Force Col Rob Maness.

A 6-year-old child died in an overnight fire in Rapides Parish, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. They say the Jocelyn Ruiz perished in the Pineville blaze and a 12-year-old suffered significant burns. The mother and another child were not seriously injured. Investigators say there did not appear to be any functional smoke alarms in the home.

Authorities are taking a look at an Iberia Parish railroad where five people died after getting stuck on the tracks in their vehicle. The Department of Transportation and Development says they are working to determine if additional traffic measures are needed. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says it’s a tragedy when an accident with a train occurs. He reminds drivers to always look out and listen when coming close to a train track…:
cut 13 (10) “be aware”
He says their study involves observing traffic volumes, the speed of vehicles crossing the tracks and additional reports.

Governor John Bel Edwards says cuts to higher ed and health care are not solutions to the budget crisis, but Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry says he’s more interested in where they can trim the fat, before raising taxes. He believes lawmakers will look at ways the state can reduce spending first…:
CUT 3 (06) “than we make”
Henry says nobody likes budget cuts, but unfortunately they are necessary.

New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport-Bossier are in the top 10 best places to live and work as a movie maker in 2016. That’s according to rankings on moviemaker.com. Executive Director of Louisiana’s Film Office Chris Stelly says these cities have great infrastructure and staging facilities…:
CUT 10 (11) “very easy”

The two men accused in the kidnapping and murder of a Baton Rouge couple have been indicted on two counts each of first degree murder. District Attorney Hillar Moore says the death penalty is now on the table. 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso and 48-year-old Frank Garcia allegedly robbed 71-year-old Denis Duplantier and his 70-year-old white Suzy, before taking them from their home and killing them in October of last year, according to authorities.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation is surveying an Iberia Parish railroad crossing where five people died right before Christmas. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says gates were put up over 10 years ago and a “do not stop on tracks” sign is in place. He sys they are working to learn if additional traffic enhancements are needed…:
cut 12 (11) “these routes”
Mallett says on average there has been one crash per year at this railroad crossing intersection for the last four years.

Governor John Bel Edwards released a column today saying cuts to higher ed and health care are not solutions to the budget crisis; however, Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry says he’s more interested in where they can make cuts before raising taxes. Henry thinks Republican lawmakers are willing to work with Governor Edwards, but they need to know what the detailed budget plans are…

cut 5 (05) “any steps”

He believes legislators will exhaust every measure possible to reduce the size of government before raising taxes.

According to a legal filing this week, the plea deal entered by former Saints star Darren Sharper in New Orleans to charges he drugged and raped women, is imploding. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says the new filing suggests the judge in New Orleans wouldn’t accept the so called “global deal”. He says this is not good news for Sharper as he’s already admitted to being a serial rapist in multiple jurisdictions…

cut 7 (10) “thought he would get”

Governor John Bel Edwards announces he’s dropping the lawsuit filed by the Jindal Administration to end Common Core. Edwards says, since the process to develop and implement Louisiana’s own education standards is nearing completion, the case, which is pending on appeal before the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, uses money, time, and resources that do not benefit students. He says his administration will not continue to waste taxpayer money on lawyers and lawsuits.

Three Louisiana cities have been ranked in the top 10 for best places to live and work for filmmakers in 2016…

cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”