If you have all of your tax forms, you can now file your federal and state income tax returns. Andrew Greenstein has helpful information as you figure out how much you owe Uncle Sam or how much you will get back.
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About 100-thousand customers are without power on this cold morning. Andre Champagne says the work continues to get the lights and the heat back on in north Louisiana.
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Generator safety is once again a major emphasis after an elderly DeSoto Parish man died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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If you have all of your tax forms – W-2s, 1099s and others – you can now file your federal and state income tax returns. There seems to be something new every year, and this year is no different. Richard Tullier (TOO-yay), a CPA with Metairie-based accounting firm Wegmann Dazet (dah-ZETT), says those who make a good portion of their income in tips, like waiters and waitresses, are in for a huge tax break.
Cut 4 (08) “…to tip earnings.”
Tullier says while Congress failed in its effort to make Social Security income tax-free, it did possibly the next best thing.
Cut 5 (10) “…adjusted gross income.”
Tullier says if you took out a loan for a new car in 2025, you get a tax deduction – as long as certain requirements are met.
The tax deduction does not apply to used vehicles, and it does not apply to leases. And if your loan is zero-percent interest, you don’t get a tax deduction, because there’s no interest to deduct.
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With January being Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Office of Human Trafficking Prevention has been working to make people aware of how big of an issue that it is here. Director Mary Kate Andrepont (AHN-dre-pont) says human trafficking happens around the entire state at all times of the year.
Cut 7 (10) “…our small communities.”
Andrepont says as part of the office’s outreach, it does a lot of training programs to help personnel in schools, hospitals and law enforcement identify human trafficking.
Cut 8 (10) “…spot human trafficking.”
Andrepont says one thing that sets Louisiana apart in its response to human trafficking is its uniform referral system.
Cut 9 (09) “…to victim services.”
Andrepont says the reason they’re seeing more victims is because through her office’s outreach efforts, officials are doing a better job at identifying trafficking victims.
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Restoring power, clearing the roads of ice and preventing more deaths are the main priorities as north Louisiana continues to deal with the aftermath of an historic ice storm. At least three people have died because of the storm, including an elderly DeSoto Parish man whose death was the result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says the victim was running a generator in his garage.
A running generator needs to be properly ventilated. Governor Landry says if your home is without heat and power, find a warming shelter near you. Landry notes there are about 80 of them operating in the state.
State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a gradual warm-up will begin this afternoon. By Thursday, high temperatures will be back around 60 degrees, but then another blast of cold air will come.
Cut 12 (12) “…and Sunday mornings.”
Power companies SWEPCO and Cleco say most of their customers will have electricity by the end of today. Entergy President Phillip May says the company anticipates 90-percent of its customers along the I-20 corridor who can safely receive power will be restored by tomorrow night.
Cut 13 (13) “…away from homes.”
May says the number of Entergy customers without power is nearly 80-thousand, with many of those in Ouachita Parish.
Cut 14 (06) “…power is restored.”
Many water systems are also struggling in this cold weather. Landry says this may become more of a problem as it warms up and pipes begin to burst.
Cut 15 (10) “…problems as well.”
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The 2026 LSU baseball team returns its entire starting outfield from last year’s College World Series championship team. Sophomore centerfielder Derek Curiel says the group’s experience together will be an advantage going into the season.
Over the offseason, Curiel put on 20 pounds of muscle to add more power and speed to his swing. Curiel says he wants to make sure he’s a difficult at-bat for opposing pitchers this season.
Sophomore pitcher Casan Evans had one of the best freshman pitching seasons in program history last season. Evans had a 5-and-1 record with a 2.05 ERA after striking out 71 in just over 50 innings of work. As he continues to work for a weekend rotation spot, Evans is focusing on improving two parts of his game.