Will District 6 Congressman Garret Graves run for Governor of Louisiana? Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A surge in COVID cases is impacting nursing homes across the country according to the latest AARP COVID dashboard. The four-week period ending on January 22, also showed a spike in nursing home staff COVID cases. Louisiana AARP Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl(maul) staff cases rose more than 15%.

Cut 6 (10)  “…antionawide.” 

The most recent dashboard which covered the four-week period ending on January 22, also showed a spike in nursing home staff COVID cases.

Rapides Parish police launch a new drone program to fight crime. The Pineville Department has added drones to assist in investigations and track criminals. Chief Darrell Basco says before the drone, Basco they would have to send up to four cars to grid and block a search area. Basco says the addition of drones gives law enforcement officers extra accessibility.

Cut 14 (08)  “…piece of equipment.”

The drone is valued at $12,000.

LABI reacts to the 2023-24 budget proposed by Governor John Bel Edwards. The total cost of the budget is around $45.7 billion. A one-cent sales tax was implemented in 2016 to help fund the $2 billion deficit the state was facing. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President and CEO, Stephen Waguespack says…

Cut 12 (11) “…time dollars.”

The regular legislative session begins on April 10.

Governor Edwards’ proposed $46-billion state budget for the fiscal year that starts in July draws scrutiny from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. LABI head Stephen Waguespack says a fiscal cliff looms in 2025, as sales taxes – passed to solve the last shortfall – expire…and the governor wants to give permanent pay raises to all public school teachers. He says lawmakers need to plan for that…:

CUT 11(07)      “…over time.”

The regular session of the legislature starts April 10^th.

Baton Rouge area Congressman Garret Graves says he is “feeling pressure” to run for governor, but will not commit one way or the other. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says some see Attorney General Jeff Landry as unbeatable, but a recent chat he had with Senator John Kennedy during DC Mardi Gras indicates that may not be so…:

CUT 09(11)      “…about Garret Graves.”

Qualifying for the fall elections starts in early August.

Pineville Police have added a state-of-the-art, multi-functional aerial drone to their force…:

CUT 03(32)      “…Thorington.”

State lawmakers are looking to make automatic external defibrillators, AEDs, mandatory in all schools and sponsored athletic events. Baton Rouge state Senator Cleo Fields sponsors the bill. If passed by legislators, the bill will make AEDs available at all schools and sporting events in the state. It will also ensure that someone trained is on hand if the device must be used.

LABI reacts to the 2023-24 budget proposed by Governor John Bel Edwards. The total cost of the budget is around $45.7 billion. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President and CEO, Stephen Waguespack says it’s imperative to have a fiscal balance…:

CUT 10(07)      “…two years.”

The regular legislative session – a short, “fiscal-only” session – begins on April 10.

Pineville Police are taking to the skies in an effort to curb crime. Chief Darrell Basco says their newest drone won’t require an operator to be called in when needed and it’s accessible for the patrol division 24/7. And it’s not your average drone, he says it allows them to see things in real-time…:

CUT 13(09)      “…consumer drone.”

The drone is valued at $12-thousand.

The latest AARP COVID dashboard indicates the early wave of coronavirus cases in nursing homes appears to have peaked. Louisiana AARP Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says, if you have a loved one in a nursing home, ask the facility what their COVID protocols are and do they have enough PPE…:

CUT 05(07)      “…several months.”

Muhl worries about a post-Mardi Gras surge in cases among the elderly, who are most at risk.

Deputies in Calcasieu Parish are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that happened Saturday night in the town of Sparks. Officers say 42-year-old Tyrel Thompson was not wearing a DOT-approved helmet and was riding recklessly, when he went off the road and hit a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A blood tox sample was taken, because they believe he was impaired at the time of the crash.

Let’s start with the 2023 Governor’s race. So far 8 candidates are announced; 5 republicans, 1 democrat and 2 independents. District 6 Congressman Garret Graves admits he is “feeling pressure” to run, but has not made any such announcement yet, despite speculation that he will. “LaPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says all that Graves talk certainly keeps his name and brand “out there”, and the strategy could work brilliantly for him if he’s a last-minute entry…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…he can do that.”

Alford admits that a little bit of “political theatre” in the race makes it more fun.

A New Orleans City Council member says Mayor LaToya Cantrell should pay back taxpayers over $50-thousand for a mailer that a legal analyst says was purely political. The mailer lists her accomplishments, just as a petition to recall Cantrell was circulating. Postage cost $32,623 and printing cost $18,323. Experts say that should have come from her campaign funds, not city coffers.

Police in Baton Rouge report a teen girl was shot and killed as she drove along Interstate 110 Saturday night. 17-year-old Nykobia Keller was able to pull over and call for help, but died at a local hospital. BRPD says the shooting was not random. Baton Rouge and New Orleans have had a string of shootings on the expressways in recent weeks.

Pineville Police have added a state-of-the-art drone, with multiple capabilities, to their force. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 03(32)      “…Thorington.”

Baton Rouge Police are seeking the person responsible for the shooting death of 17-year-old Nykobia Keller. She was shot while driving down I-110 near Hollywood Saturday night. She was able to pull over and call for medical help, but died later at a local hospital. BRPD believes this was a targeted attack. They ask anyone with information to contact them.

The Governor’s proposed executive budget has been out for about a week, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry shares their feelings about it…:

CUT 02  (31)        “…Foxx.”

The latest AARP COVID dashboard indicates the early wave of coronavirus cases in nursing homes appears to have peaked. Louisiana AARP Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says that’s good news, especially for this most vulnerable age group…:

CUT 04(09)      “…activities.”

Which historically will lead to an uptick in cases days later.

Baton Rouge area Congressman Garret Graves says he is “feeling pressure” to run for governor, but will not commit one way or the other. So, will he run or not? “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford has watched many political campaigns unfold and says Graves is employing a pretty smart strategy by playing coy on the race…:

CUT 07(12)      “…theatrics here.”

Graves can run for Governor this fall, and simply return to Congress should he not win.

Baton Rouge area Congressman Garret Graves says he is “feeling pressure” to run for governor but will not commit one way or the other. So, will he run or not? “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford has watched many political campaigns unfold and says Graves is employing a pretty smart strategy by playing coy on the race…:
Cut 7 (12) “bit of theatrics here”
Graves can run for Governor this fall, and simply return to Congress should he not win.

A grand jury in West Baton Rouge Parish indicts an Addis police officer for a New Year’s Eve crash that happened during a high-speed chase. Officer David Cauthron was chasing a car theft suspect, when he ran a red light on Highway 1 in Brusly and hit a car carrying three teens. Two teen girls were killed, and a teen boy passenger was critically injured. The grand jury indicted Cauthron for manslaughter, negligent injuring, reckless operation and malfeasance in office.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Mardi Gras was a big success for New Orleans, despite being marred by acts of violence and crime. The official numbers are still being tallied, but Nungesser says there were huge crowds in Metairie and New Orleans on Fat Tuesday….:
Cut 12 (12) “prior to COVID”
However, Nungesser says cities (especially New Orleans) must be allowed to get a handle on rising crime or crowds will DWINDLE.

A Netflix original movie filmed in Ascension Parish hit the streaming platform no Friday. “We Have a Ghost” is the story of a family who moves into a fixer-upper and becomes a viral sensation when they reveal a ghost in their home. Aquiles Montalvo (Achilles Mon-tal-vo) an assistant location manager on the film says you’ll recognize Donaldsonville in a car chase scene…:
Cut 6 (07) “for a treat”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy involved shooting at a gas station that left a suspect dead. They say they responded to a call around 4am at a Terrytown convenience store, where a man was behaving erratically before becoming combative towards deputies then fired at least one shot. One of the deputies fired their service weapon at the suspect striking and killing him.

A West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicts a former Addis cop for his role in a New Year’s Eve high-speed chase and car crash that killed two teenage girls. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Lent is underway which marks the official beginning of Crawfish season in Louisiana. The Crawfish App compares local prices for mudbugs and co-founder Laney King says not only is this weekend perfect weather-wise for a boil, it’s also promising for the season itself…:
Cut 4 (07) “excited about”
She says prices are back to normal compared to previous seasons and will keep dropping as we get closer to Easter.

LSU Health Shreveport has been chosen as a site for a nationwide study on Parkinson’s Disease in African Americans. LSUHS Center for Brain Health Director Elizabeth Disbrow says information gathered on Black and African American connections to Parkinson’s Disease is only one piece of a larger global effort to enhance knowledge of genetic information and treatment..”
Cut 11 (09) “clear diagnosis”

A grand jury in West Baton Rouge has indicted the Addis police officer involved in a high-speed chase that left two teenagers dead and one seriously injured on New Year’s Eve. 42-year-old David Cauthron is now formally charged with 2 counts of manslaughter, aggravated obstruction of a highway, negligent injury, malfeasance in office and reckless operation.

Congressman Garret Graves is feeling pressure to announce whether or not he’ll run for Governor. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
CUT 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s an embarrassment that gun charges were dropped by the Orleans Parish DA’s Office against 16 men arrested over Mardi Gras in The Big Easy. He says the system must do better as the crime issue in New Orleans is going to deter big conventions from coming here…:
Cut 14 (06) “the streets safer”
He’s calling for the dismissal of the assistant district attorney who made the decision.

Lent marks the official kickoff to crawfish season in Louisiana, so what’s it going to set you back this year? The Crawfish App compares the price of mudbugs in your local area, and co-founder Laney King says prices are down 5 percent over last year…:
CUT 3 (11) “$125 a sack”
You can check the prices near you by searching for The Crawfish App on your phone.