Davante Lewis is out as vice chairman of the Public Service Commission, and Eric Skrmetta is in. The commission voted 3-to-2, down party lines, to strip Lewis of his leadership role after he directed a vulgar insult towards Governor Landry on social media. Prior to the vote, Lewis defended himself, saying he was not going to apologize for his remarks.

Cut 13 (10)  “…sand to me.”

CBS News contributor and Louisiana native David Begnaud is launching a storytelling initiative highlighting college students who exemplify kindness, resilience, and community impact. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed praised the project, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase students’ impactful work.

Cut 4 (12) “…first in this project.”

Spring is right around the corner, but Louisiana is getting one more blast of arctic weather. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Bill Jacquemin”

Brace yourself – brutally cold weather is coming back tonight. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says that will especially be the case in North Louisiana.

Cut 6 (07) “…across northern Louisiana.”

Grymes says it will dip below freezing across the entire state tonight. The good news, however, is that daytime highs will rise above freezing both tomorrow and Friday.

The Public Service Commission votes to strip Davante Lewis of his vice chairmanship and install Eric Skrmetta into that role. The vote was three to two, right down party lines. The move comes after Lewis directed vulgar language towards Governor Landry on social media. During public comment prior to the vote, Melissa Flournoy with Progress Louisiana says Lewis’ social media post was no reason to strip him of his leadership role.

Cut 12 (12) “…the vice chair.”

Chairman Mike Francis says the call to vote on the issue was his alone.

CBS News contributor and Louisiana native David Begnaud is launching a storytelling initiative highlighting college students who exemplify kindness, resilience, and community impact. Begnaud introduced his vision to representatives from Louisiana’s public and private colleges.

Cut 3 (12) “…for someone else.” 

In the coming years, several new facilities will be opening at Northwestern State University. Jennifer Kelly, the school’s executive director of university affairs, says the biggest project is Alost Hall, the new main academic building.

Cut 10 (17) “…nurse anesthesia program.”

Davante Lewis is out as vice chairman of the Public Service Commission. This morning, the commission voted to strip the Democrat of his leadership role after he used language on X to criticize Governor Landry that I cannot repeat on the radio without putting our affiliates’ FCC licenses in jeopardy. The commission voted to install Republican Eric Skrmetta as vice chairman. Chairman Mike Francis is a former head of the Louisiana Republican Party. I asked him whether he would have taken the same action if a Republican commissioner used vulgar language towards a Democratic official, he couldn’t definitively say yes or no.

Cut 6 (09) “…statement like that.”

A second inmate has died this month at the medium security federal prison in Pollock. The Federal Bureau of Prisons says 26-year-old Artavius Burnett was found unresponsive yesterday morning. This is the fourth death at the facility in Grant Parish since last fall. Burnett was convicted in Tennessee for armed robbery.

Suspended LSU running back Trey Holly is expected to get a trial date today. Colleen Crain reports it was about a year ago law enforcement say he was involved in a shooting in Union Parish….

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

With temperatures taking a frigid turn tonight, some communities are opening up warming shelters. In Lafayette, the Dupuis Recreation Center will open at five this evening for homeless people and people who lack adequate heat inside their homes. The warming center will remain open until Friday, when temperatures will rise back above freezing.

The Public Service Commission is meeting at this hour, and the commissioners will soon vote on whether to strip Davante Lewis of his vice chairmanship. This, after Lewis used vulgar language to criticize Governor Landry in a post on X last week. Chairman Mike Francis says Lewis’ language was uncalled for.

Cut 5 (07) “…what he said.”

Nine medical organizations representing thousands of Louisiana doctors issue a statement saying vaccines “should not be politicized.” Surgeon General Ralph Abraham issued a directive that the Department of Health will no longer organize mass vaccination efforts. The medical associations say vaccines are one of the most significant medical innovations of our time. Tulane School of Public Health Professor Susan Hassig agrees.

Cut 8 (12) “…vaccines.”

Two groups are challenging Entergy’s plan to power a massive artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana. The Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Union of Concerned Scientists are asking the Public Service Commission to deny Entergy’s request to build three gas power plants for the facility. Logan Burke, the executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, says Entergy did not sufficiently show that the plants are the most cost-effective option; and in the long run, ratepayers could get stuck with the bill.

Cut 14 (12) “…Entergy Louisiana bill.”

Entergy and Meta have not commented on the groups’ challenge.

New Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore is zeroing in on an offensive coordinator, and it’s a name that Louisiana football fans are very familiar with – Doug Nussmeier. Nussmeier is the father of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who’s viewed as a top contender for the Heisman Trophy next season.

Two groups are challenging Entergy’s plan to build three gas plants to power a Meta artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana….

Cut 2 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Arkansas has snow and ice, but north Louisiana missed out. But the Bayou State will not escape the cold. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says freezes extend all the way to the coast for both Thursday and Friday morning.

A public service commissioner’s words could come back to haunt him. PSC Chairman Mike Francis has called on commissioners to vote on whether to keep Davante Lewis as the vice chairman at this morning’s meeting. Last week, Lewis posted a comment on X towards Governor Landry, using language that cannot be repeated on the radio. Francis says calling for the vote is his call.

Cut 4 (13) “…as vice chairman.”

Lewis used the expletive towards Landry in response to the governor tweeting new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy was a major upgrade over his predecessor from the Biden administration.

New facilities are coming for Northwestern State. A new academic center will open this Fall and the school’s executive director of university affairs, Jennifer Kelly, says progress is also being made with a new health performance center…

Cut 11 (15) “…as well”

This project is funded by private donations.

A Democratic public service commissioner’s vulgar words could come back to haunt him this morning. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A second inmate has died this month at the medium security federal prison in Pollock. The Federal Bureau of Prisons says 26-year-old Artavius Burnett was found unresponsive Tuesday morning. This is the fourth death at the facility in Grant Parish since last fall. Burnett was convicted in Tennessee for armed robbery.

Two groups are challenging Entergy’s plan to power a massive Meta artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana. The Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Union of Concerned Scientists are asking the Public Service Commission to deny Entergy’s request to build three gas power plants for the facility. Logan Burke, the executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, says Entergy sidestepped PSC policy.

Cut 13 (14)  “…necessarily are needed.”

Entergy says Meta will significantly offset the costs associated to make service available to the company’s data center and region.

The Louisiana Department of Health is no longer organizing mass vaccination events. Professor Susan Hassig, with the Tulane School of Public Health, says L-D-H is neglecting its responsibility of keeping the public safe…

Cut 9 (10) “…to them”

Surgeon General Ralph Abraham says vaccination decisions should be made between the patient and the doctor.

Nine medical organizations representing thousands of Louisiana doctors released a statement that says vaccines “should not be politicized.” It’s in response to Surgeon General Doctor Ralph Abraham’s directive that the Louisiana Department of Health is no longer organizing mass vaccination efforts.  Professor Susan Hassig, with the Tulane School of Public Health, says there’s been push back against vaccines for decades, but the results show they are good for public health…

Cut 7 (08) “…than that.”

Abraham says an individual should talk with its own health care providers to decide if a vaccine is right for them.

The Alliance for Affordable Energy does not think Entergy’s plan to build three gas power plants to support the ten-billion dollar Meta artificial data center in northeast Louisiana is a good idea. Logan Burke is concerned about cost…

Cut 14 (11) “…Entergy Louisiana bill.”

Entergy says the gas power plants will be designed for clean energy production when feasible. They are seeking approval from the P-S-C by October, if regulators reject Energy’s plan, the energy company has to come up with a new proposal.

Suspended LSU running back Trey Holly is expected to get a trial date today. Colleen Crain reports it was about a year ago when he was allegedly involved in a shooting in Union Parish….

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Every couple years or so the LSU baseball team goes down to Thibodaux to play the Nicholls Colonels. Tonight is the night. It will be cold with temperatures in the low 40s and a wind coming out of the north. Tomorrow morning, wind chills will be in the single digits for north Louisiana and in the teens for central and much of south Louisiana.

There’s the possibility of heavy rain and strong storms for south and central Louisiana, while north Louisiana could see freezing rain.

Cut 1 (30) “…well below freezing.”

LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin.

Creole music legend Goldman Thibodaux has passed away. Thibodaux dedicated his life to preserving the traditional Creole LaLa sound. While it’s viewed as the precursor to today’s zydeco, LaLa has its own unique sound. Thibodaux was 92 years old.

An argument at the breakfast table turns deadly in LaPlace. 24-year-old Tamyrihu (tam-uh-REE-hoo) Hubbard of Marrero is behind bars in connection with the shooting death of her boyfriend, 23-year-old Joshua Jones. St. John The Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Trege says the couple had been having problems for years.

Cut 6 (13) “…then turned deadly.”

This is the best week where college-bound seniors can get help applying for financial aid. This is FAFSA Frenzy Week, where post-secondary institutions are hosting events to help people complete their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid. Ebony Holmes with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance says at this juncture, time is now of the essence in getting the FAFSA form completed.

Cut 10 (10) “…that FAFSA completed.”

An argument at the breakfast table turns deadly in LaPlace. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking anglers for help in keeping Louisiana waters free of non-native invasive fish because fish like the Northern Snakehead which resembles Louisiana Bowfin over compete and prey on the native fish potentially devasting both recreational and commercial fisheries. LDWF if you catch a Northern Snakehead, do not release it. They ask you to kill the fish but first take a side view photo and report its location to the Aquatic Invasive Species Hotline at 225-765-3977.

A Winter Weather advisory goes into effect in North Louisiana at six tonight. National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Hemingway says travel could become treacherous deeper into the night because of the possibility of winter precipitation.

Cut 3 (09) “…daybreak tomorrow morning.”

The winter weather advisory covers Shreveport, Homer, Ruston, Monroe and Winnfield.

LSU men’s basketball is 2-and-10 in the SEC heading into tonight’s matchup with South Carolina. The Tigers won just two SEC games in Coach Matt McMahon’s first season. Last year LSU was 9-and-9 in the SEC. Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbeau says McMahon is doing what he can on the recruiting trail, but needs more NIL dollars to lure big-time prospects to Baton Rouge…

Cut 14 (12) “…all tell.”

Pursuit of a stolen UPS truck ends with a crash in Shreveport Tuesday morning. Shreveport police say Skyler Jarvis stole the truck that was loaded with firearms and controlled substances. During the pursuit, police say Jarvis struck two police units in what Chief Wayne Smith called an extremely dangerous and reckless incident. After the crash Jarvis was arrested with the help of K-9 officer Edy and he’s been charged with Attempted First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Flight, and Auto theft.

A breakfast table argument turns deadly in LaPlace. 24-year-old Tamyrihu (tam-uh-REE-hoo) Hubbard of Marrero is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend, 23-year-old Joshua Jones.

Cut 8 (12) “…second-degree murder.”

St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Trege says the couple has a history of problems. Hubbard’s bond is set at one-million dollars.

There’s the possibility of heavy rain and strong storms for south and central Louisiana, while north Louisiana could see freezing rain. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin breaks it all down…

Cut 1 (30) “…below freezing”

FAFSA Frenzy Week is underway and post-secondary institutions are hosting events to help people complete their Free Applications for Federal Student Aid. Ebony Holmes with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, says FAFSA is the starting point for financial aid.

Cut 9 (11)  “…for institutional aid.”

Holmes says time is running short to get the FAFSA form completed for the coming year.