President Trump says the US will not retaliate militarily against Iran for last night’s rocket attack targeting two US bases in Iraq. Congressman Garret Graves says it likely is not a coincidence that the barrage did not kill a single person. He says Iran likely calibrated the attack so as to not provoke a response from the US.

Cut 7 (09) “activity.”

The President says the missile attack will result in new sanctions on Iran.

Louisiana Economic Development reports there was eight billion dollars in new capital investment in 2019 resulting in 12-thousand new jobs. L-E-D Secretary Don Pierson says they have been working to diversify the state’s economy with these new projects

Cut 12 (13) “…economy in.” 

Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game is expected to be a financial winner for southeast Louisiana. LSU fans are expected to be the most prominent fan base in town, and Chief Marketing Officer for New Orleans & Company Mark Romig says they’ll show off why they are the best fans in the world.

Cut 10 (10) “…friends with them.”

Romig expects the economic impact from the national championship game to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

KingCakeSnob.com launches the fifth annual “Seal of Approval” ranking competition.  Spokesperson Andrew Alexander says the biggest criteria when rating king cakes is presentation, flavor, freshness, and uniqueness. He addsthere isn’t necessarily a pattern that is followed when it comes to the voters’ rankings of king cake.

Cut 4 (10) “…the winners circle.”

President Trump says the US will not retaliate militarily against Iran for last night’s rocket attack targeting two US bases in Iraq. Congressman Garret Graves sees a de-escalation of tensions in the region that hit a boiling point after the US killing of a top Iranian Commander

Cut 6 (11) “none”

The President says the missile attack will result in new sanctions on Iran.

Louisiana Economic Development reports there was eight billion dollars in new capital investment in 2019 resulting in 12-thousand new jobs. L-E-D Secretary Don Pierson says the big economic wins in 2019 include a new deal to keep CenturyLink’s headquarters in Monroe through 2025, a helicopter assembly plant locating in Lafayette and in St. Tammany Parish, Medline announced it will build an 800-thousand square foot distribution center

Cut 14 (10) “…the state”

After eight years as the state’s top education leader, John White informs the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that he’s stepping down in March. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game is expected to be a financial winner for southeast Louisiana. Chief Marketing Officer for New Orleans & Company Mark Romig says those that are still looking for overnight accommodations in the Big Easy may be in luck in finding a place to stay.

Cut 11 (08) “…national championship brings.”

Romig expects the economic impact from the national championship game to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

President Trump says there will be no military retaliation in response to an Iranian rocket attack on US bases in Iraq. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

State Superintendent of Education John White has announced he’s stepping down in March, after eight years as the state’s education leader. In his resignation letter, White says Louisiana is a better-educated state than any point in its history. He points to an all-time record high school graduation rate and improved standardized test scores.

Louisiana Economic Development says in 2019 there were over 80 projects wins resulting in eight billion dollars in capital investment and over 12-thousand new jobs. L-E-D Secretary Don Pierson says since the start of the Edwards administration, Louisiana has attracted more than 210 projects…
Cut 13 (12) “…is operating”
Pierson says a big economic development win was CenturyLink agreeing to keep its corporate headquarters in Monroe through 2025.

King Cake lovers can vote on their favorite brands and flavor varieties at the King-Cake-snob-dot-com website. Spokesperson Andrew Alexander says last year Manny Randazzo won for top overall King Cake while Caluda’s repeated as the best filled King Cake…
cut 5 (11) “…King cake
Voting runs through February 18th.

The US will not bomb Iran in retaliation for a rocket attack on two US bases in Iraq last night, that according to the President, who says he and the Iranians appear ready to begin de-escalating tensions that hit a boiling point after the US assassination of an Iranian general. Congressman Garret Graves cautions that just because Iran says they’ll stop firing missiles, doesn’t mean the region will find peace…

Cut 8 (12) “…activities”

The President says the missile attack will trigger additional sanctions.

The CFP Championship Game is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the southeast Louisiana region, and the money is already starting to pour in. It may only be Wednesday, but Chief Marketing Officer for New Orleans & Co. Mark Romig says fans are already in town.

Cut 9 (10) “…go into Monday.”

Saints QB Drew Brees is going undercover tonight on the season premiere of CBS’s Undercover Boss. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (29)  “… alma mater” 

After eight years on the job state Superintendent of Education, John White is stepping down, the second major state agency head to leave this week alone. White led Louisiana’s schools through some major changes, including the expansion of school vouchers, teacher evaluation reform, and two different governors. He joins Department of Health Secretary Rebekah Gee, who announced her departure earlier this week.

President Trump announces the US will not retaliate militarily against Iran for last night’s rocket attack targeting two US bases in Iraq. Congressman Garret Graves says it likely is not a coincidence that the barrage did not kill a single person. He says Iran likely calibrated the attack so as to not provoke a response from the US.

Cut 7 (09) “activity.”

The President says the missile attack will trigger additional sanctions.

KingCakeSnob.com launches the fifth annual “Seal of Approval” ranking competition.  Spokesperson Andrew Alexander says the biggest criteria when rating king cakes is presentation, flavor, freshness, and uniqueness.

Cut 3 (06)  “… rise to the top.” 

The competition runs through February 18th.

Walk On’s restaurants will be showcased on national television with the season premiere of Undercover Boss on CBS tonight.  Co-Founder Brandon Landry and investor Drew Brees will be disguised to work with the staff at some of the locations throughout the chain.  Landry says Brees was only available for one day of production at the location near the Superdome, but Brees got plenty of work done that day.

Cut 11 (08) “…pretty special episode.”

The episode airs tonight at 7. Watch parties will be held at all 33 locations.

100 people, all Clemson and LSU alumni, coaches, and school personnel are getting together Saturday before the CFP Championship Game to help out the hungry. Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana spokesperson Jay Vise says they fully expect there to be a little competitive spirit Saturday as the teams try to out bag the other, but…

Cut 14 (12) “…volunteers”

President Trump says the US will not retaliate militarily against Iran for last night’s rocket attack targeting two US bases in Iraq. Congressman Garret Graves sees a de-escalation of tensions in the region that hit a boiling point after the US killing of a top Iranian Commander.
Cut 6 (11) “none”
The President says the missile attack will trigger additional sanctions.

In the Jefferson Davis Parish town of Jennings, you’ll find plenty of people rooting for Clemson in Monday’s national championship game. That’s because it’s the hometown of Clemson star running back Travis Etienne. Jennings Mayor Henry Guinn says they are overjoyed for the two-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year…
cut 30 (12) “…anywhere else”

LSU Astronomers predict an unusually bright star is set to join the night sky. Matt Doyle spoke with Professor Juhan Frank (You-han Fronck)…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Undercover Boss episode with Saints quarterback Drew Brees airs tonight on CBS at 7:00. Brees is a co-owner of the Walk-on’s sports bistreaux chain and during the show he’ll be in disguise working as a regular employee. Walk-on’s Co-founder Brandon Landry says they are holding watch parties at their 33 locations….
cut 12 (10) “…things like that”

A small Jefferson Davis Parish town is in a predicament, torn between their allegiance to the Bayou Bengals and a hometown football star. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Monday is the start of the spring semester at LSU, but some students are hoping for the cancellation of classes because the Tigers will be playing in the College Football Playoff Championship Game that night at the Superdome. However, the university has announced no plans to cancel classes for Monday or Tuesday.

Walk On’s restaurants will be showcased on national television with the season premiere of Undercover Boss on CBS tonight.  Co-Founder Brandon Landry and investor Drew Brees will be disguised to work with the staff at some of the locations throughout the chain.  Landry says the CBS makeup team had a big challenge cloaking Brees.

Cut 10 (10) “…not get that.”

The episode airs tonight at 7. Watch parties will be held at all 33 locations.

LSU Astronomy researchers predict there will be a massive cosmic explosion that will provide stargazers something special, but it will not happen until 2083. Professor Juhan Frank (You-han Fronck) says a white dwarf and a star three times the size of the sun are spiraling towards each other 7,700 lightyears away and its set to end in a bang…
cut 7 (13) “…explosion”
The end result of the merger will produce a single star.

If you drive through the small town of Jennings, you might feel as if you’re in an episode of the Twilight Zone because the town is split on which Tiger to pull for Monday. That’s because Clemson Tigers stand out running back Travis Etienne hails from the Jefferson Davis Parish town. Jennings Mayor Henry Guinn is conflicted.
Cut 4 (10) “…alama mater.”
Etienne had an outstanding prep career at Jennings High.

Staff and alumni from LSU and Clemson will get together in Harahan in Jefferson Parish on Saturday to repackage more than two tons of Louisiana-grown rice so that it can be distributed to food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. Jay Vise is the spokesperson for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana…
cut 15 (09) “…absolutely”
Vise says fighting hunger is something all football fans have in common.
LSU Astronomy Researchers have made a long-range prediction that in 2018 a faint star known as V Sagittae will explode and become the brightest star in the night sky. Professor Juhan Frank (You-han Fronck) over the next few decades the star will brighten rapidly, providing a great learning tool for astronomers…
cut 9 (12) “…phenomenon”
The findings were first shared at the 235th annual American Astronomical Society meeting in Hawaii.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says severe storms with tornadoes and damaging winds are looking increasingly likely Friday afternoon through Saturday morning for northwest Louisiana. Severe weather is possible throughout Louisiana on Saturday. Rain is also in the forecast for inauguration day on Monday.