One person was killed and four others wounded in a shooting along the Bacchus parade route in uptown New Orleans last night. Gunfire rang out at around 9:30 PM last night and witnesses say everyone near the scene took cover to avoid getting hit by bullets. One of the shooting victims is a young girl. A suspect has been taken into custody.

Governor Edwards is proposing $2,000 increases for teachers and $1,000 for support staff in the upcoming legislative session. But he wants to give them even more if the Revenue Estimating Conference finds a surplus. Legislative Director for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Cynthia Posey says the R-E-C will meet in May.
Cut 13 (13) “…increases in.”

The Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus’s recent retreat has one lawmaker hopeful they will address issues impacting women and children.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU AgCenter nutrition specialist Elizabeth Gollub says long periods of uninterrupted sitting are associated with many serious health issues…..
cut 11 (09) “…your circulation”
Gollub says prolonged sitting can also weaken bones.

We’ve reached the last weekend of Carnival Season in Louisiana. A big number of parades will take place all across the state between now at the end of Fat Tuesday. Today’s parade weather should be clear by fairly cold, but Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’s definitely seen colder, and still expects huge crowds…:

CUT 07  (07)        “…Mardi Gras day.”

Fat Tuesday’s forecast: small chances of rain, but it should be warm and humid.

A West Monroe couple is arrested for torching their mobile home over a year ago, to collect insurance money. State Fire Marshall’s spo0kesperson Ashley Rodrigue says they are 54-year-old Charles Robertson and 33-year-old Tanya Scott. She says they put first responders and their neighbors at rick in the fire…:

CUT 13  (08)        “…inside of it.”

A tip led officials to investigate the fire as arson.

Funeral services are today for Alonzo Bagley, who was shot and killed by a Shreveport police officer earlier this month. Bagley was unarmed. Officer Alexander Tyler has been suspended and charged with negligent homicide in the case. Bagley’s family asks those that wish to honor him plant a tree in his memory.

Governor Edwards wants to give teachers a $3000-a-year raise this year. He made the ask while presenting his annual executive budget proposal to state lawmakers. He tells Joint Budget Committee member they should be able to find the revenue to make it happen…:

CUT 10  (12)        “…more than sufficient.”

You can view the entire $46-billion proposed budget at “doa.la.gov/media”

Governor John Bel Edwards tells state legislators he wants to give school teachers a pay raise this year of $3000 each, plus a $1000 raise for support staff. The governor presented his executive state budget proposal Friday morning, and told lawmakers education has always been a priority for his administration…:

CUT 11  (14)        “…in that direction.”

You may be thinking, “they just got a raise last year”…but that was actually a one-time bonus of $3000; not a salary bump. The proposed budget comes in at just under $46-Billion for the fiscal year that starts in July.

A jury in Alexandria has found 23-year-old Jamaria Randle guilty of murder for the January 2022 shooting death of Deven Brooks. Randle and Brooks had dated for a while before the crime. Prosecutors say she robbed Brooks, kidnapped him, shot him in the head and dumped his body near a levee. One accomplice has pleaded guilty; trial for another is scheduled later this year.

Campaign fundraising totals are in for the candidates running for governor and Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry has a big lead over his opponents…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Palermo.”

TSA officers at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans report they stopped a man trying to board a plane with a loaded semi-automatic rifle this week. In addition to the rifle, he had over 100 rounds of ammo. Guns cannot be carried onto any plane; they must be checked luggage…and they may NEVER be loaded. He faces fines of up to $15-thousand.

A Jeff Davis Parish couple face murder charges in the October 2022 death of a 13-year-old boy. Sheriff’s deputies have charged Jennifer and Adam Duhon – both 40 – with literally starving the child to death. When brought too late to a hospital the pre-teen weighed less than 30 pounds. Severe malnutrition was his cause of death. The pair are charged with 2^nd-degree murder.

It’s the height of carnival season and record-breaking crowds are anticipated this Mardi Gras…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

Candidates for governor had to turn in a campaign finance report this week and Attorney General Jeff Landry has a huge advantage over his opponents. Landry has slightly more than five-million dollars, plus a PAC supporting him has another one-point-five million dollars. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat…:

CUT 03(08)      “…for governor.”

State Treasurer John Schroder has two-point-four million dollars on hand. State lawmakers Sharon Hewitt and Richard Nelson have raised less than a million each. Independent Hunter Lundy loaned his campaign over $1-million.

Governor John Bel Edwards wants state lawmakers to see their way to budgeting enough money to give all Louisiana public school teachers a $3000 pay raise. Not a one-time bonus; a permanent raise. Here’s the governor making his case before the Joint Budget Committee…:

CUT 09(11)      “…budget reflects that.”

He says there should be ample revenue to make it happen.

In his proposed state budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, Governor Edwards wants $3000 pay raises for all public-school teachers. The actual Executive Budget calls for $2000 salary bumps, but Edwards feels lawmakers will be able to find revenue to fund the higher figure…:

Cut 10 (12) “…more than sufficient.” 

A West Monroe couple faces aggravated arson, criminal conspiracy, and insurance fraud charges after allegedly setting their mobile home on fire in December of 2021. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it was originally believed to be accidental, but a tip sparked further investigation…:

Cut 12 (12) “…insurance money.”

Charles Robertson and Tonya Scott were arrested on Valentine’s.

Gubernatorial candidates turned in up-to-date campaign finance reports this week and Hunter Lundy of Lake Charles shows one-point-six million on hand after lending himself one-point-four million dollars. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Lundy’s “no party” designation on the ballot can only take him so far.

Cut  4 (04)  “…in Louisiana” 

Attorney General Jeff Landry has the most money on hand at five million dollars.

It’s the last weekend of carnival season and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they are expecting huge crowds across the state this Mardi Gras. Nungesser says before COVID Louisiana had five record-breaking tourism years in a row and he’s grateful that parades are back to their pre-pandemic routes and krewes.

Cut 6 (11)  “…festival season.” 

Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s detectives arrest two people for murder, in connection with the starvation death of a 13-year-old boy last fall. The child was brought to a children’s hospital in Baton Rouge on October 20^th; his height was 42 inches, but he weighed less than 30 pounds. Jennifer and Adam Duhon – both 40 – are now charged with 2^nd degree murder. The investigation is ongoing.

It’s the long-awaited Mardi Gras weekend and record-breaking crowds are anticipated right through Fat Tuesday. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

Governor Edwards presented state lawmakers with his proposed $45.7-billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1^st, in which he proposes paying more money to police, firefighters and especially teachers…:

CUT 09(11)      “…budget reflects that.”

Edwards wants to give public school teachers a $3000-a-year raise; not a one-time bonus like they got last year. He also wants raises for school support workers. The legislature will begin their budget work in early April.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office says a tip led them to investigate a West Monroe couple, whose mobile home burned down in December 2021…and eventually arrest them for arson and insurance fraud. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says that tip led to closing the case…:

CUT 14(10)      “…know something.”

You can pass along tips to the Fire Marshal online at “lasfm.org.”