State police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Jackson Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says the sheriff’s office answered a call Saturday where 63-year-old Michael Dobbins allegedly broke into a Chatham residence assaulted one person, fled the scene then had a shootout with officers behind some abandoned cars. Reichardt says he failed to listen to commands, and we declared dead on the scene.

Cut 5 (07) “…was hurt.”

Senator Bill Cassidy’s Surprise Medical Bill legislation preventing patients from paying unexpected fees after going to the hospital is now in effect. Cassidy says he’s heard of insurance companies playing games by not going in-network with doctors knowing it would put the patient at risk for the cost but now patients are no longer at risk…

Cut 7 (07) “…is out of the middle” 

Get ready to bundle up for the second night in a row. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll only see highs in the upper 40s today so don’t expect the sun to warm us up too much. As for Tuesday, Keim says it will be much of a repeat of this morning with basically everything north of I-10 waking up to freezing temps.

Cut 13 (10) “….and Thursday. “

The Saints still have a shot at making the playoffs. Sunday’s victory gives New Orleans an 8-and-8 record and some of the recent wins have been ugly as a result of an offense missing starters on the o-line. Linebacker Demario Davis says the defense doesn’t have a problem with stepping up its game…

Cut 10 (10)  “…that opportunity”

If the Saints beat Atlanta on Sunday and the 49ers lose to the Rams, New Orleans is in the playoffs.

The state reports 31-thousand new COVID cases, those are positive cases which include results from the New Year’s weekend.  And the state reached a grim milestone today of more than 15-thousand fatalities. Hospitalizations are over 11 hundred.

State police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Jackson Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says the sheriff’s office answered a call Saturday where 63-year-old Michael Dobbins allegedly broke into a Chatham residence assaulted one person, fled the scene then had a shootout with officers behind some abandoned cars. Reichardt says earlier in the day Dobbins supposedly broke into a vehicle and stole a gun.

Cut 4 (08) “…for a little while.”

Dobbins was declared dead on the scene after he failed to surrender to officers.

Senator Bill Cassidy’s Surprise Medical Bill legislation preventing patients from paying unexpected fees after going to the hospital is now in effect. Cassidy says this is one of the first steps towards getting price transparency but there’s still a lot to be done…

 Cut 6 (0.08) “…that’s never been the case” 

The Saints still have a shot at making the playoffs even though they’ve scored just one touchdown in the last three games. New Orleans’s defense produced seven sacks in an 18-10 win over Carolina yesterday. Defensive end Cam Jordan had 3.5 sacks and says holding the Panthers to only 88 yards rushing was also a key…

Cut 9 (10) “…just sacks”

If the Saints beat Atlanta on Sunday and the 49ers lose to the Rams, New Orleans is in the playoffs.

State police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Jackson Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says the sheriff’s office received a call Saturday afternoon that 63-year-old Michael Dobbins broke into a Chatham residence assaulted one person and then fled the scene. But hours later he was found behind some abandoned cars.

Cut 3 (12) “…at the scene.”

The suspect was also allegedly shot at vehicles before police arrived and a car burglary earlier in the day.

Louisianans needed much more than a light jacket as they ventured out into the frozen tundra this morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it was quite a contrast to the unseasonably warm temps the Bayou State was experiencing.

Cut 12 (12) “…down to 32.”  

Keim says we’ll only see highs in the upper 40s today so don’t expect the sun to warm us up too much.

The New Year brings new changes to how much state taxes you’ll pay. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

COVID hospitalizations and cases in the state continue to spike at the Omicron variant makes its presence known in Louisiana. The Bayou State began the year with more than 1,000 COVID patients in the hospital. New daily totals will be released at noon, and they will include weekend totals. Governor John Bel Edwards is encouraging residents regardless of vaccination status to mask up indoors.

A Lafayette judge who repeatedly used a racial slur in a video taken insider her home has resigned from the bench. Judge Michelle Odinet’s attorney, Dane Ciolino, sent the resignation letter to the Louisiana Supreme Court. Ciolino says Odinet asked for forgiveness in the letter but knows forgiveness will not come quickly…
cut 12 (08) “….work to do”
Odinet had been on an unpaid leave of absence after the video surfaced.

Looking ahead to the year in politics, debates will emerge that we’ve seen at the state capitol before. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford on some of the hot button topics…
cut 5 (09) “….criminal justice reform”
State lawmakers will also hold a redistricting session in February.

The new year brings a change to the state’s medical-marijuana program as eligible patients can now buy it in smokeable form. Houma Representative Tanner Magee…
Cut 13 (12) “…uses wants.”
And the smokeable form is cheaper than the other medical marijuana products.

Taxpayers will also see lower income tax rates in 2022, but Louisiana residents will not be able to deduct federal income taxes paid on their state income tax returns anymore. The tax reform has been pitched as revenue-neutral and tax expert Jason Decuir says if it does lead to a budget shortfall, changes could be made…
cut 9 (10) “…for the state”
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office says most individual income taxpayers who don’t itemize will see a tax cut, while those who itemize likely will pay more.

Embattled Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet who garnered national headlines after a viral video of where she allegedly used a racial slur as her family watched a home security video of an attempted burglary has stepped down from the bench. Odinet’s Attorney Dane Ciolino says in her resignation letter, she says she’s sorry for the pain she’s caused to the community…

Cut  11 (12)  “..to come”  

Medical marijuana in its smokable form is now available in Louisiana. Since the program launched in 2019 there are now 28-thousand patients who have a valid medical marijuana prescription. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says many of those individuals are over the age of 65

Cut 15 (10)  “…find beneficial”

2022 is already shaping up to be a very active & potentially dramatic year for Louisiana politics. Kevin Gallagher elaborates…:

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

2022 appears to be a repeat of how 2021 started with over one thousand COVID patients in Louisiana hospitals.  The Louisiana Department of Health reports 76-percent of those patients are not up to date on their COVID vaccine. LDH reports 15-thousand new cases since New Year’s Eve.

The New Year brings changes to the state’s tax code. Jason DeCuir is a partner at Advantous, a tax consulting firm in Baton Rouge. He says a big change is with state income tax rates, after voters last fall approved lowering individuals’ tax rates in exchange for losing their deduction for federal taxes paid…:
Cut 7 (11) “…taxes that they pay.”
DeCuir says corporate state income taxes were also reduced.

Louisiana junior senator John Kennedy is up for re-election this year. La-politics dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the jockeying will also begin for the 2023 governor’s race….
cut 6 (10) “….run for governor”
Alford expects several announced candidates for governor by the end of the year.

Louisiana medical marijuana patients now have the choice to get smokeable medical marijuana at one of the state’s nine licensed pharmacies. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

There are concerns about the state’s health care capacity now that COVID hospitalizations have surpassed one-thousand again. The Louisiana Department of Health reports at least 15-thousand new cases since Friday. Many children return to school today and despite a recommendation from the state health department, the LHSAA will not halt their winter sports season.

2022 is starting much like 2021 started with over one thousand people in the hospital suffering from COVID in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Health reports 76-percent of those patients are not up to date on their COVID vaccine. LDH reports 15-thousand new cases since New Year’s Eve.

The New Year brings new changes to the state’s tax code and it will impact your paycheck. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The new year brings a change to the state’s medical-marijuana program as eligible patients can now buy it in smokeable form. Houma Representative Tanner Magee…
Cut 13 (12) “…uses wants.”
And the smokeable form is cheaper than the other medical marijuana products.

2022 is shaping up to be an active year for politics in Louisiana. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says first up a redistricting session in February. Alford says partisan politics PLUS population losses will come into play as legislators redraw district lines for Congress, the legislature, Public Service Commission and state courts…:
Cut 4 (12) “….see some changes.”
Governor Edwards has said he wants a second majority-minority Congressional district, but Alford expects the GOP-led legislature will resist.

2022 brings new laws to Louisiana including one that impacts the state’s medical-marijuana program. The smokeable form of medical marijuana is now available to patients who receive a prescription from their doctor. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the smokeable form involves less processing, it should also cost less for the consumer…
cut 14 (12) “…..look at it”
Magee authored the legislation that made smokeable marijuana legal in Louisiana.

Embattled Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet has stepped down from the bench as a result of a viral video where she allegedly used a racial slur as her family watched a home security video of an attempted burglary. Odinet’s Attorney Dane Ciolino says the judge takes full responsibility…
Cut 10 (11) “…the community”

2022 is already shaping up to be a very active & potentially dramatic year for Louisiana politics. Kevin Gallagher elaborates…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”