Things seem to finally be getting closer to normal today after an icy week of road, school and office closures. But there are still some cold-weather issues; particularly in Southeast Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says some water systems are dealing with low pressure from busted pipes, and with temperatures going below freezing last night, some roads stayed slick..:
Cut 13 (09) “being open”
Temperatures today will return to the 50s today.

A legislative task force recommends Louisiana loosen its restrictions on the gaming industry. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says one of the proposals involves allowing riverboat casinos some inland real estate…:
Cut 7 (08) “existing facility”
The proposals will go before lawmakers during the upcoming legislative session.

Jury selection in the second-degree murder trial involving former NFL player Joe McKnight’s shooter should conclude today. The John Curtis running back was killed by Ronald Gasser on a roadside in Jefferson Parish in December of 2016. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the defense will likely claim McKnight tried to enter Gasser’s car in a road rage incident:
Cut 4 (08) “will apply”
The castle doctrine permits use of force when in defense of your home, or as in Louisiana, your car.

Jury selection should conclude today in the fatal shooting of former NFL and John Curtis running back Joe McKnight. Matt Doyle spoke to a legal analyst about the trial…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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A legislative task force is pushing for a loosening of existing casino regulations. Matt Doyle talked to Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns about the proposals…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Frank Selas, known as Mr. Wonder on a Monroe children’s television show in the 1970s, accepted a plea deal in Rapides Parish for sexually assaulting a child.  Kelley Ray has more…

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Jury selection in the second-degree murder trial involving Joe McKnight’s shooter should conclude today. The former NFL and John Curtis running back was shot by Ronald Gasser on a roadside in Jefferson Parish in December of 2016. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the defense will likely claim McKnight tried to enter Gasser’s car after a road rage incident…

Cut 4  (08) “will apply” 

The castle doctrine permits use of force when in defense of your home, or as in Louisiana, your car.

The prosecution will argue the incident was incited by Gasser. Ciolino says if this is the case, Gasser won’t be eligible to claim self-defense…

Cut 5  (10)  “defensive force.”

Another possible legal defense for Gasser would be invoking stand your ground. Ciolino says…

Cut 6 (12)  “his ground”

Gasser was involved in another aggressive incident at the same intersection a decade ago.

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A legislative task force recommends Louisiana loosen its restrictions on the gaming industry. The task force put forward two recommendations to make bayou gaming more nationally competitive. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says one of those proposals involves allowing riverboat casinos some inland real estate…

Cut 7 (08)  “existing facility.”

Existing regulations only allow a certain square footage of “gaming space”, and Johns says this requirement is antiquated considering the size of new slot machines…

Cut 8 (09) “particular license.”

Johns says if the proposals are adopted, you shouldn’t expect to see an increase in the number of Louisiana casinos…

Cut 9 (10)  “any of that”

These proposals will go before legislators during the upcoming legislative session.

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Frank Selas, known as Mr. Wonder on a Monroe children’s TV show in the 1970s, accepts a plea deal, where he’ll serve five years for sexually assaulting a child during a camping trip in 1979.  Selas gets two years credited for time served and will not register as a sex offender since the sex offender registry didn’t exist when the crime was committed. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is how a plea agreement works…

Cut 10 (11) “for everybody.”

Selas’ attorney Mike Small calls the plea deal a “no-brainer.” And the “outcome in this case is the result of countless hours and meetings…all of whom were intimately familiar with the…case.”  Meche says people may be upset about the sentence, but this agreement benefits the people directly involved…

Cut 11 (09) “they wanted.”

The Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office said in a statement it is “in the best interest of the victim and his family to bring the matter to a conclusion…that would avoid putting the victim and his family through a public trial.”  Meche says evidence in a decades old case would have been hard to find…

Cut 12 (08) “attorney’s opinion.”

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Temperatures will return to the 50s today, but cold weather-related issues remain, especially in southeast Louisiana where many communities are dealing with low water pressure. The record breaking cold busted pipes and forced many to run their faucets to fight the freeze. Governor John Bel Edwards says water systems need a couple more days to catch up

Cut 13 (09)  “being open”

Most of the state’s interstate system has re-opened thanks to warmer temperatures and work done by the state department of transportation. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson warns motorists there may have been some re-freezing of ice on the roadways over night

Cut 14 (10) “other closures”

Low water pressure is impacting travelers at Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner. Director of Aviation Kevin Dolliole says the toilets in the concourses can not be flushed.

Cut 15 (12) “lobby area”

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The Saints are not playing this weekend, but there’s still some bayou boys to pull for in this weekend’s NFL conference championships. In the AFC, Jacksonville takes on New England, former Tiger and now Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette says after his huge game against Pittsburgh, he knows he’s the focus for Bill Belichik’s defense…

Cut 16 (15)  “of plays”

Last week Fournette was spotted rocking his LSU shoulder pads under his Jacksonville jersey. He says the old pads are just too comfy to put away…

Cut 17 (15) “LSU fans.”

In the NFC, Doug Pederson’s Eagles take on the Vikings. Pederson, a former ULM quarterback and high school coach at Calvary Baptist in Shreveport, lead his team to the top seed in the NFC. He says his reputation as a player’s coach comes down to his authenticity…

Cut 18 (15) “Doug Pederson”

Pederson lost MVP caliber quarterback Carson Wentz to a season-ending injury a month ago, and since then his offense has struggled. Backup Nick Foles has led the offense since, and Pederson says he’s optimistic about his chances…

Cut 19 (12)  “in him” 

That game kicks off Sunday at 5:30

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There are more than 50 boil water advisories posted throughout the state. Michelle Southern finds how why this happens…:

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Forecasters say we have one more night of below freezing temperatures statewide. State meteorologist Barry Keim says we haven’t experienced these frigid temperatures in the last 20 years, but the bigger weather story though is the winter precipitation in the span of six weeks…

Cut 4  (09) “coastal zone.” 

An off-duty Alexandria police officer was killed in an accident in Grant Parish Wednesday.  53-year-old Sgt. Travis Lowe of Deville lost control of his pickup truck and collided with a large tree. Master State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says they are trying to fathom why as a police officer, Lowe wasn’t wearing a seat belt…

Cut 10 (08) “seat belt.”

Residents in Louisiana were asked by their utility companies to conserve power for a time period Thursday morning as energy demand was getting close to being more than what the power grids could handle. Entergy spokeswoman Sheila Pounders says the Midcontinent Independent System Operator made the request since they manage supply and demand on the grid..:

Cut 11 (12) “weather”

The north Louisiana TV show personality known as Mr. Wonder in the 70s will serve five years in prison.  Frank Selas sexually assaulted a child while on a camping trip in Rapides Parish in 1979.  All parties agreed a plea agreement with two years credit for time served.  He will not have to register as a sex offender as that law was not in effect in 1979.

Water pressure has become a concern across Louisiana in the wake of the recent arctic blast, which has prompted some parishes to issue boil water advisories. So why does this happen? Louisiana Department of Health Chief Engineer Amanda Laughlin (Loff-Lin) says when a hard freeze event takes place, pipes burst and there are an extremely high number of line breaks:

Cut 6 (12)  “contamination event”

Power use is another concern in Louisiana.  Entergy spokeswoman Sheila Pounders says typically there is a huge spike in power usage about 8am every morning when people are getting to work, so they simply asked folks today to refrain for a couple of hours.  She says it is extremely unusual for demand to be greater than supply, but if electricity had exceeded available generation, they ask utilities to reduce power…:

Cut 12 (08) “without any events”

Louisiana Radio Network News, I’m Matt Doyle

The freezing grip from the polar vortex is about to loosen in Louisiana.  Forecasters say we have one more night of below freezing temperatures statewide and then a warm front begins to move in which will swing temperatures the other way.  State climatologist Barry Keim says this weekend will feel like paradise after nearly a month of below normal temperatures…

Cut 3 (06) “near 70.”

Keim says there’s one more day of extreme cold to go through before the temperatures start stabilizing.

Earlier today residents in Louisiana were asked by their utility companies to conserve power for a few hours Thursday morning as energy demand was getting close to being more than what the power grids could handle. Entergy spokeswoman Sheila Pounders says they doesn’t foresee any future demand that would exceed the supply over the next several days as temperatures rise…:

Cut 13 (11) “like this”

Entergy spokeswoman Sheila Pounders says the Midcontinent Independent System Operator made the request since they manage supply and demand on the grid..:

LRN

There are more than 50 boil water advisories posted throughout the state. Michelle Southern finds how why this happens…:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern.”

The former host of a KNOE Monroe children’s show has been sentenced to five years of hard labor after being convicted of a number of rape and battery charges stemming from a 1979 camping trip. Known as “Mr. Wonder”, Frank Selas fled the country after a warrant was issued for him at the time. Selas was captured in California in 2015. He won’t have to register as a sex offender, as the registry did not exist when the crime took place.

LRN News

There are over 50 boil water advisories in effect throughout Louisiana, and that number is expected to increase.  Louisiana Department of Health Chief Engineer Amanda Laughlin (loff-lin) says if your house is under a boil water advisory, it’s important to follow the order because when pressure is low, bacteria could potentially enter the distribution system:

Cut 7 (07)  “things in”

The freezing grip on the state is about to loosen.  Forecasters say we have one more night of below freezing temperatures then a warm front begins to move in.  State climatologist Barry Keim says we haven’t seen temperatures this cold in the last 20 years.  He says the bigger story is the winter precipitation seen the last six weeks…

Cut 4  (09) “coastal zone.” 

Temps are expected near 70 in parts of the state this weekend.

An off-duty Alexandria police officer was killed in an accident in Grant Parish Wednesday.  53-year-old Sgt. Travis Lowe of Deville was southbound on Highway 167, when he lost control of his pickup truck and collided with a large tree.  Master State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says the frigid weather didn’t play a factor…

Cut 9 (09) “the crash.”

Routine toxicology tests are pending and the crash remains under investigation.

A man was found frozen outside his home in Crowley early Wednesday morning.  The 56-year-old man was found by neighbors lying face down in his yard.  Police chief Jimmy Broussard says they are interviewing neighbors to try to determine why he was outside and if health issues were related to his death…

Cut 15 (07) “contributing factor.”

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of the victim’s family.

There are more than 50 boil water advisories posted throughout the state. Michelle Southern finds how why this happens…:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern.”

Crews are seeing progress in reopening interstates.  I-10 eastbound only from Highland Road in East Baton Rouge Parish, through New Orleans, all the way to the Mississippi State Line is open.  I-20 and most of I -49 except through a portion of Caddo Parish are open.

An off-duty Alexandria police officer was killed in an accident in Grant Parish Wednesday.  53-year-old Sgt. Travis Lowe of Deville was southbound on Highway 167, when he lost control of his pickup truck and collided with a large tree.  Master State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says they are puzzled as to why a police officer, who is concerned about safe driving, wouldn’t have his seat belt on when he was behind the wheel…

Cut 10 (08) “seat belt.”

Crowley Police says neighbors found a man frozen to death outside his home Wednesday morning. After paramedics arrived, the body of the 56-year-old man was sent for an autopsy.  Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says the death remains suspicious until the report is completed by the coroner…

Cut 14 (06) “weather related.”

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of the victim’s family.