Even though precipitation has moved out of Louisiana and none is expected for the next several days, lingering moisture is making some roadways in North Louisiana slick, especially on I-20, where it’s a slow-go between Monroe and Arcadia in both directions. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says this is despite crews working around the clock to keep roadways as passable as they possibly can.

Cut 4 (11) “…get hit first.”

Currently, there are more than 110-thousand customers without power throughout the state. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says it’s a game of whack-a-mole – when one area gets its power restored, another area loses it.

Cut 7 (11) “…warm weather.”

Almost 87-hundred customers are without power in DeSoto Parish, which is looking at another night with low temperatures in the teens. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson says people who do not have an adequate way to warm their homes should find shelter.

Cut 12 (09) “…life-threatening temperatures”

The Red Cross has opened shelters and warming centers throughout the state; but with brutally cold temperatures forecast overnight, the organization is looking to open more of them. Thus, Kenneth St. Charles, the regional CEO of the American Red Cross Louisiana Region, is putting out a statewide call for volunteers.

Cut 14 (12) “…that we have.”

Training only takes about a couple hours, and it can be done virtually.

The Louisiana Department of Health has reported a third winter-storm related death. An 86-year-old man in DeSoto Parish died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The death was confirmed by the parish coroner as winter-storm related. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson says his deputies have been busy conducting welfare checks…

Cut 11 (14) “…go check.”

The state health department says the other two winter-storm related deaths happened in Caddo Parish as two men died due to hypothermia.

Numerous roads are closed, especially in Caddo and Ouachita Parishes. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they have been working around the clock, even before the storm arrived…

Cut 5 (10) “…a day”

Mallett says they are advising the public to avoid I-20 westbound in Bienville, Lincoln and Ouachita parishes due to stalled or stopped 18-wheelers.

More than 100-thousand people are without power as a result this historic ice storm. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…Joe Gallinaro.”

And we are looking at another cold morning tomorrow with low temperatures in north Louisiana ranging from the single digits to the teens and wind chill readings in the teens for south Louisiana. It will begin to warm up on Tuesday afternoon, but looking at another cold front at the end of the week and another cold weekend.

At this hour, about 120-thousand customers remain without power throughout the state. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says while no one likes living without power, the public understands Mother Nature has produced a difficult situation for Entergy, SWEPCO, Cleco and all of the power companies working around the clock to get the power restored.

Cut 8 (13) “…up here.”

USA Today Network reporter Greg Hilburn is among those without power in his home. Amid his shivering, Hilburn says most people are taking state and local officials’ advice and are staying home.

Cut 10 (12) “…they are doing.”

The precipitation has moved out of Louisiana, and none is expected for the next several days. But Rodney Mallett with DOTD says especially those of you in North Louisiana still need to use extreme caution when venturing out onto the roadways.

Cut 3 (07) “…dangerous driving conditions.”

Nowhere is that more evident than on westbound I-20, where stalled 18-wheelers had caused massive backups today.

If you have some extra time on your hands, the Red Cross could use your help. Kenneth St. Charles, the regional CEO of the American Red Cross Louisiana Region, is putting out a statewide call for volunteers.

Cut 13 (12)  “…ready to go.”

Training only takes a couple of hours, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Jeff Palermo….

Cut 9 (11) “…transportation”

That’s Greg Hilburn, a reporter with the USA Today Network. Hilburn is like many in north Louisiana, hunkered down in his home with no power, but able to stay warm because of his fireplace. According to power-outage-dot-com, more than 120-thousand utility customers are without power, 47-thousand of the outages are in Ouachita Parish. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell represents all of north Louisiana. Campbell says the buildup of ice on tree limbs has led to many of the outages…

Cut 6 (10) “…up here.”

Entergy says its crews are prepared to work long hours to restore service to customers as safely and quickly as possible.

If it seems like you’re paying up the nose in sales taxes, the Tax Foundation says you’re right.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Senator Bill Cassidy along with several other Republican members of Congress, has called for an in-depth investigation into federal immigration tactics after the fatal shooting in Minnesota of U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti by a U-S Border Patrol Agent. Cassidy said the events in Minneapolis are “incredibly disturbing” and the credibility of ICE and D.H.S. are at stake.”

Despite the efforts of utility crews, more than 123-thousand customers statewide remain without power at this hour. Ouachita Parish leads the pack by a mile with more than 47-thousand in the dark. Michael Corbin with SWEPCO says especially given the dangerous road conditions, crews worked quickly and efficiently throughout the weekend in getting power restored as quickly as possible.

Cut 13 (11)  “…people so quickly.”

With brutally cold temperatures gripping the state, fire officials are very concerned that people are going to resort to creative – and dangerous – methods to heat their homes. State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams says do not try to use your oven to warm up your home. He says if you have a fire going in your fireplace, make sure it’s out before your head hits the pillow.

Cut 11 (07) “…fire as well.”

According to a conservative columnist, it’s not a slam dunk that Julia Letlow will win the Republican U.S. Senate primary just because she has the backing of President Trump. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Letlow is not the only Louisiana candidate to earn Trump’s endorsement. Trump has given his endorsement to Congressman Clay Higgins for his re-election bid in the state’s Third Congressional District. Higgins is in his fifth terms in the House and has thus far not drawn a primary challenger. Tia LeBrun is running as a Democrat in the heavily Republican district.

Following President Trump’s endorsement of Julia Letlow for U.S. Senate, incumbent, Bill Cassidy said endorsements will not decide the race; instead, the voters will select the candidate with the best record. Advocate newspaper columnist Tyler Bridges said on Talk Louisiana, it will be interesting to see if Cassidy’s strategy will work.

Cut 6 (13) “…in the Senate.”

Cassidy is not backing away from the issues that may be contrary to the president’s views. In a social media post, Saturday he expressed concern about the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the reputations of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. After another fatal shooting in Minnesota, he said there must be a full federal and state investigation.

The winter precipitation and heavy rains have moved out of the state, but the cold weather is here. The storm caused power outages for almost 130,000 homes and businesses, mostly in North Louisiana where temperatures are not expected to get above freezing until Tuesday. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says we will see a slight warm up as the week goes on.

Cut 15 (08) “…I-10, I-12.”

And the storm claimed the lives of two men in Caddo Parish. DHS says the men died from hypothermia.

Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate in the country says the Tax Foundation. Policy Analyst Janelle Fritts says the state did reduce income taxes across the board to a flat three percent and cut other taxes as well so the state’s ranking in overall tax burden has improved.

Cut 9 (11)  “…used to be.”

The frigid cold that moved in with the winter storm has taken the lives of two men in Caddo Parish. The Department of Health says the men died as a result of hypothermia. And as we all try to stay warm, especially those in 120,000 plus homes and businesses in North and Central Louisiana, State Fire Marshall Bryan Adams is concerned about the increased risk of house fires. He says do not use your oven to warm your house, make sure your fireplace is out before going to bed, and when using a space heater, keep it away from anything that can easily catch fire.

Cut 10 (10) “…you stay warm.”

LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says expect frigid temperatures all day.

Cut 14 (15) “…degree or two.”

If it seems Louisiana sales taxes are steep, the Tax Foundation says they are. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Though, President Trump recently endorsed Julia Letlow for U.S. Senate, appearing on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster, conservative columnist for the Advocate Quin Hillyer says she’s in for a tough race. Letlow will not only face attacks from Incumbent Bill Cassidy, but also from two of the other major candidates — John Fleming and Blake Miguez.

Cut 5 (12) “…against Julia Letlow.”

The Primary is May 16^th and the runoff June 27^th.

Two men in Caddo Parish have died as a result of this winter storm. Louisiana Department of Health says the deaths are a result of hypothermia. With this bitter cold, almost 125,000 Louisiana homes and businesses remain without this morning – over 48,000 in Ouachita Parish alone. SWEPCO who had around 70 thousand outages still has almost 30 thousand in the dark Michael Corbin with SWEPCO says they’re working quickly to restore service.

Cut 13 (11)  “…people so quickly.”

Entergy and Panola Harrison Electric Coop are also working to restore power.

The winter precipitation has moved out of north Louisiana, the heavy rainfall out of south Louisiana but the bitter cold is here. Wind chill readings are below zero in north Louisiana and in the single digits for south Louisiana. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says high temperatures will not get above freezing until Tuesday for north Louisiana. We’ll see a slight warm-up as the week goes on.

Cut 15 (08) “…I-10, I-12.”

According to a conservative columnist, it’s not a slam dunk that Julia Letlow will win the Republican U.S. Senate primary just because she has the backing of President Trump. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Meanwhile Cassidy is not joining the Republicans who are defending recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents. After agents killed U.S. Citizen, Alex Pretti in Minnesota, Cassidy is calling for a full joint federal and state investigation and expressed concern over the credibility of ICE and DHS.

Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate in the country, says the Tax Foundation. Policy Analyst Janelle Fritts says Tennessee has the second highest, but Tennessee has a taxpayer advantage over Louisiana

Cut 8 (12) “…the major taxes.”

She says Louisiana’ s recent change to a flat 3 percent and other tax cuts have improved the state’s taxpayers’ overall tax burden.