In New Orleans the Krewe’s of Zulu and Rex are making their way throughout the crescent city streets. By order of the King of Carnival… Rex… all “normal activities” are suspended for the day. Outside of New Orleans…Houma will display some of the more impressive celebrations. The city’s visitor bureau spokesperson, Joey Pierce says their floats are worth the drive.

Cut 12 (:11) q…”New Orleans.”

Pierce says part of the Houma Mardi Gras charm is the “lack” of huge crowds.

Could a group of South American Snails put the brakes on an otherwise promising crawfish season? Lsu Ag officials say it’s possible and already one crawfish farmer is pulling his nets. The South American Apple Snail clogs crawfish nets and is particularly hard to exterminate. So for now there’s only one thing to do.

Cut 15 (:10) q…”getting in.”

Louisiana food trucks are canvassing cities like Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta, today passing out King Cakes. It’s part of Lt. Governor Billy Nunguesser’s new tourism slogan “Louisiana: feed your soul.” While hundreds of thousands are in New Orleans for Mardi Gras…nunguesser want’s to attract more visitors to the state.

Cut 9 (:07) q…in Louisiana.”

In Baton Rouge a golfing complex will be breaking ground to attract both hackers and scratch players alike. A multi-level digital driving range will feature chef driven menu’s and top-shelf beverages. “TOPGOLF”, The sports and entertainment venue will employ 325 positions. It’s expected to open late this year.

Patchy rain is expected throughout the morning, putting a damper on some parade goers. But according to the state climatologist Barry Keim warmer temperatures are headed our way.

Cut 6 (:10) q…warm pattern.”

High’s in the 70’s tomorrow.

The state’s tourism leader, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, is in Washington D-C on this Fat Tuesday. He’s there to promote the state’s new tourism slogan “Louisiana: Feed Your Soul.” Nungesser says the new branding perfectly typfies the kind of activities visitors can expect when they come to Louisiana…
cut 8 (09) “…Gras week”
Nungesser will be talking with traveling writers and passing out King Cake in the Nation’s capitol. State tourism officials will do the same in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston.

High temperatures will be in the mid 60s in New Orleans for their Mardi Gras festivites and there’s a chance for a shower this afternoon. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will be a little cooler in southwest Louisiana for their Mardi Gras festivites….
cut 5 (07) “…actually is”
High temperatures in the 70s tomorrow.

The LSU Ag Center is concerned about an invasive species known as the apple snail. It became so abundant in an Acadia Parish that a farmer there had to shut down his crawfish farm. Agent Mark Shirley says the resilient and slimy snails can rapidly infect a large area….
cut 16 (11) “…larger snails”
Shirley says the apple sails devour vegetation crucial for crawfish and there’s no way to kill off the snails.

Old time Mardi Gras celebrations will take place in small southwest Louisiana towns like Mamou and Iowa. In Iowa, the chicken run starts at the Knights of Columbus Hall and Organizer Rodney Victorian….
cut 10 (10) “…chasing it”
After the run is done, gumbo will be served featuring the chicken collected that day and there you’ll also hear plenty of zydeco music.

An invasive water species known as the ‘apple snail’ shut down a 220 acre crawfish farm in Acadia Parish. Problem is the snail clogs the crawfish trap creating a harvesting problem. Jeff Palermo on the threat posed by this South American crustacean.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Officials say the snail can carry a fatal disease called “rat lungworm.’

Grab an umbrella if you’re heading to the mardi gras parades. Forecasters are calling for showers throughout the day but fortunately the temps will be in the high 60’s.

The new state tourism slogan “Feed Your Soul” is being debuted around the country as part of Mardi Gras celebrations.  Kelley Ray spoke with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser in Washington D.C….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Over a million visitors are estimated to be at Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year, but it’s not the only place to celebrate the eve of Lent. The town of Iowa (I-O-Way) will keep a decade’s old tradition alive this year, the chicken run starting at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Chief Chicken Run Organizer Rodney Victorian says the town not only has a unique way of celebrating Fat Tuesday.

But says it’s tradition, started by his family, that brings the community together to celebrate the season.

Cut 11 (06) “Mardi Gras”

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s the rural areas of the state that stand to benefit the most from President Trump’s infrastructure plan. Edwards has already proposed three projects, all in urban areas, prior to the meeting with Trump. Afterwards however Edwards endorsed the presidents’ rural Block grant development portion.

Of course today is fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras 2018 is about to roll. New Orleans though isn’t the only place to pass a good time. Matt Doyle explains.

Cut 2 (:30) q…”matt doyle.”

If you’re loading up to head for today’s mardi gras parade’s it’s a good idea to pack some rain gear. Parades in New Orleans and as far north as Shreveport could see some significant rain. State climatologist Barry Klien says watch out for the wet stuff.

Cut 4 (:06) q…”bear it.”

The state’s top tourist cheerleader is on the road this mardi gras to promote tourism in the bayou state. Lt. Governor Billy Nunguesser is hawking a new tourism slogan…”Feed your soul.”

Cut 7 (:12) q…”the world.”

Food trucks and King Cakes are being distributed all over, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta as part of the promotion.

The new state tourism slogan “Feed Your Soul” is being debuted around the country as part of Mardi Gras celebrations.  Kelley Ray spoke with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser in Washington D.C….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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New Orleans isn’t the only place getting down for Mardi Gras. Matt Doyle takes a look at two other long running Louisiana Fat Tuesday traditions.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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An invasive species known as the apple snail shut down a 220 acre crawfish farm in Acadia Parish. Jeff Palermo on the threat posed by this South American crustacean.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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It’s Fat Tuesday and there’s big parades in south Louisiana and Mardi Gras activities in Shreveport as well, but unfortunately there’s a chance of rain. State Climatologist Barry Keim says you might need a poncho…

Cut 4  (06) “bear it” 

Keim says temperatures are expected to reach in the upper 60s in New Orleans, but it will be a little cooler in southwest Louisiana for their Mardi Gras festivites…

Cut 5  (07)  “actually is”

Keim says after today we’ll see high temperatures get into the 70s…

Cut 6 (10)  “warm pattern”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is celebrating Mardi Gras, he’s just not in Louisiana.  He’s helping to promote Louisiana’s new travel tourism slogan “Louisiana: Feed Your Soul.”  The new brand is being promoted in several states, including the Nation’s capital…

Cut 7 (12)  “the world.”

Nungesser says the new branding perfectly typifies the kind of activities travelers can expect to do when they come to Louisiana…

Cut 8 (09) “Gras week.”

Nungesser says the reaction to the new slogan has been positive and hopes that the internet can be used to further spread the idea of making travel plans to Louisiana…

Cut 9 (07)  “in Louisiana.”

Atlanta, Dallas and Houston are also participating in helping to roll out the new brand with food trucks and King Cake.

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Over a million visitors will be enjoying Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year, but it’s not the only place to celebrate the last day before Lent. The town of Iowa (I-O-Way) will keep the chicken run tradition alive this year, starting at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Chicken Run Organizer Rodney Victorian says the town has a unique way of celebrating Fat Tuesday.

Cut 10 (10) “chasing it”

Victorian says it’s a generations old tradition, started by his family, that brings the community together to celebrate the season with food and family.

Cut 11 (06) “Mardi Gras”

After the run is done, gumbo will be served and zydeco will be played to close out the day.

Houma will see some of the biggest celebrations outside of the Crescent City. Four different parades will roll in and around the city, and Houma Visitors Bureau Communications Director Joey Pierce says the quality of floats will be top notch.

Cut 12 (11) “New Orleans”

Pierce says Houma offers the fun of a New Orleans parade, minus the massive crowds. But while there may not be as many people, there may be just as many beads.

Cut 13 (08)  “Gras throws”

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An invasive species of snail is posing a threat to crawfish harvests. The apple snail is indigenous to South America, and can devour vegetation crucial to the development of Louisiana crawfish. An abundance of apple snail shut down a 220 acre farm in Acadia Parish. LSU Ag Center Agent Mark Shirley says so far, there is no solution to the problem.

Cut 14 (06) “just yet”

The invasion is being blamed on aquarium owners who decided to dump the snails into the water way. Shirley says at the moment, there’s only one thing farmers can do.

Cut 15 (10) “getting in”

The snails can survive drought, host a poisonous parasite, and lay eggs filled with toxins. Shirley says the resilient and slimy snails can rapidly infect a large area.

Cut 16 (11) “larger snails”

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The LSU Tigers have another tough test on the road tonight in the SEC as they visit Alabama. The Crimson Tide is coming off a 28-point win over at the time 15th ranked Tennessee. Tigers Coach Will Wade says Bama is playing great….

Cut 17 (19) “statistically”

LSU is coming off an 82-66 victory over Ole Miss. Duop Reath led the way with 26 points. The Tigers lost to Alabama by eight points earlier this season in the PMAC. Reath had five turnovers in that game and Wade says Reath can expect double teams tonight….

Cut 18 (15) “it was a disaster”

Wade says LSU’s best chance to win tonight is to shoot well from the outside…

Cut 19 (19)   make 3s” 

Baton Rouge Police arrest a man after he allegedly fired shots at a police officer and four others, including his mother, sister and cousin.  34-year-old Eugene Thomas Junior allegedly fired the shots in question Sunday night, then fled.  15 minutes later, police stopped him and Thomas fired shots at the officer.  Another officer finally stopped and arrested him.  Coppola credits the quick response by police that kept this situation from being worse than what it was…

Cut 5  (06)  “facing already.”

Coppola says they are investigating why the situation escalated to the level it did.

An 83-year-old grandmother is the first Louisiana Lotto jackpot winner for the year. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says Josephine Prendergast of Gonzales has been trying to win it big for sometime…

Cut 7 (11)  “January 20th.”

A Shreveport caregiver is being held on a 150,000 dollar bond after allegedly stealing money from an elderly, disabled patient. Jim Shannon talked to the Caddo Sheriff’s Office.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon.

A 17-year-old juvenile who escaped from the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe has been found and arrested.  Teondre Wright was found by the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations and the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in an apartment complex in Algiers.  He was placed under arrest and booked into the Orleans Justice Center as a fugitive.

Louisiana Radio Network News, I’m Matt Doyle

Baton Rouge Police arrest a man after he allegedly fired shots at a police officer and his family.  Cops located 34-year-old Eugene Thomas Junior about 15 minutes after an initial shooting, when he opened fire on police. Sgt.  Sgt. Don Coppola says Thomas faces several charges.

Cut 4  (07) “a firearm.” 

One officer was rushed to the hospital and is expected to survive their injuries.

An 83-year-old grandmother is the first Louisiana Lotto jackpot winner for the year. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says Josephine Prendergast of Gonzales thought she won only 600-dollars.  Prednergast was quite surprised when she found out at the lottery office she won 525-thousand-dollars…

Cut 6 (10)  “of suprise.”

A Shreveport woman was arrested and charged with exploitation of persons with infirmities and felony identity theft after an investigation by Caddo Parish deputies. 37-year-old Dorothy Edwards was a caregiver for a disabled 65-year-old-woman and is accused of stealing more than 20,000 dollars. Spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says it was a long con.

Cut 9 (10) “open accounts.”

Edwards is being held on a 150,000 dollar bond.

The federal government has declared this year’s flu season as the worst breakout since the 2009 swine flu epidemic. State Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says don’t hold out on getting your shot because of vaccine related rumors. She says there is a lot of misinformation online.

Cut 14 (07) “up facts”

Louisiana Radio Network

A man is under arrest after allegedly firing shots at a Baton Rouge Police Department officer and some family members.  Cops located 34-year-old Eugene Thomas Junior about 15 minutes after the initial shooting and Sgt. Don Coppola says that’s when the suspect started shooting at the officer…

Cut 3 (11) “was struck.”

He was rushed to the hospital, but is expected to recover.

The federal government has declared this year’s flu season as the worst breakout since the 2009 swine flu epidemic. State Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says if you’re holding out on getting your shot because of vaccine related rumors, you’re making a big mistake.

Cut 12 (10) “get it”

A Shreveport woman was arrested and charged with exploiting persons with disabilities after allegedly stealing more than 20,000 dollars.  37-year-old Dorothy Edwards was a caregiver for a 65-year-old woman while the thefts were occurring.  Caddo Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says those who rely on caregivers need to protect their personal information…

Cut 11 (11) “properly secured”

Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says Josephine Prendergast of Gonzales is the first Lotto Winner in 2018, winning 525-thousand-dollars. So what does the latest winner want to do with her earnings?  Chopin says Prendergast was ready for a good cup of coffee…

Cut 8 (10) “right now.”