A federal judge in New Orleans has thrown out a controversial lawsuit that sought millions of dollars from oil and gas companies to pay for damages done to Louisiana’s wetlands . The lawsuit was filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and they are expected to appeal.

Two people were found dead yesterday in an apartment building in Alexandria’s garden district and police are treating it as a homicide. The identity of the victims have not been released, but we know it’s a male and female.

The Saint Martin Parish Sheriff’s office arrested a Baton Rouge attorney who is accussed of stealing several items from an elderly client. The U-S Marshals Task Force took 63-year-old Stephen Spring into custody and he faces a charge of theft over five-hundred dollars.

And the search is on for a Washington Parish jail inmate who escaped from custody early this morning. He’s 39-year-old Kaunda Lopaz Magee and he’s previously been charged with aggravated rape.

It’s an absolutely perfect day for Mardi Gras parades. But Gary Chatelain with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says some cold and wet weather is on the way and it will get to north Louisiana first….
cut 20 (09) “…tomorrow night”
High temperatures in the upper 60s tomorrow in south Lousiiana, but mid 50s for north Louisiana and there’s a chance we could see some icy conditions along the I-20 corridor on Monday.

It’s a big weekend for Louisiana’s restaurant industry as Valentine’s night is the second most popular Holiday to eat out. Louisiana Restaurant Association spokesperson Erica Burns says with Valentine’s on Saturday, they expect to have tables full throughout the Mardi Gras weekend…
cut 29 (11) “…of days”
Burns says most upscale restaurants have been booked for at least a couple of weeks.