The below normal temperatures are about to leave the Bayou state. Jeff Palermo spoke with state climatologist Barry Keim…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards has moved the unveiling of his budget proposal to Monday due to winter weather in Louisiana. He had intended to show the administration’s proposed spending plan tomorrow but was moved to next week because of concern about how lawmakers would get to Baton Rouge with the interstates closed.

Precautionary boil advisories are posted throughout the state where water pressure issues are a concern due to frozen pipes busting. State Department of Health Chief Engineer Amanda Laughlin (Loff-Lin) says areas under the order should boil any water to be consumed…:
Cut 8 (10) “all of them do”
She says it’s still okay to bathe in the water.

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”
She says they made it through the morning without any issues and the request was lifted after a few hours and no more are expected as temps rise.

After a frigid week, thankfully things will be warming up by the weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says today’s sunshine will help defrost interstates and roads…:
Cut 5 (11) “was yesterday”
He says by Sunday highs will be in the delightful low 70s.

There are nearly 50 boil advisories issued in the state right now due to water pressure concerns from excessive use and bursting frozen pipes. Louisiana Department of Health Chief Engineer Amanda Laughlin (Loff-Lin) it’s important to follow the orders because when pressure is low, bacteria could potentially enter the distribution system:
Cut 7 (07) “things in”
She adds that the advisories are only precautionary.

State Police say 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 Trooper Scott Moreau says the frigid weather didn’t play a factor in the accident…:
Cut 9 (09) “the crash”
He says Lowe was not wearing his seat belt.

One man died and another is in critical condition following a Wednesday night fire in Terrebonne Parish. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says 79 year old Ernest Lebouef died, and 43-year-old Chad LeBlanc was badly injured in the blaze.

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 before a warm front moves in. State climatologist Barry Keim says it will soon feel like paradise after the freezing past month…:
Cut 3 (06) “near 70”
He says it will still be cold tomorrow but we’ll wake up to temperatures around 20 statewide — about 10 degrees warmer that yesterday.

Louisiana continues to suffer through its worst flu season on record, with nearly 10 in 100 doctors visits in the last month for influenza related symptoms. Frank Welch, medical director for the Louisiana Department of Health Immunization Program, says he hasn’t seen this in his 20 year tenure:
Cut 25 (06) “in Louisiana”
Welch says complications from the flu kills roughly 700 Louisianans a year.

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”
She says there are about 48 boil advisories posted in the state right now, and that number is expected to go up.

Governor John Bel Edwards has moved the unveiling of his budget proposal to Monday due to winter weather in Louisiana. He had intended to show the administration’s proposed spending plan tomorrow, which includes $1 billion dollars in state budget cuts. The meeting will now be held Monday because of concern about how lawmakers would get to Baton Rouge with the interstates closed.

Cold temperatures claimed the life of a man in New Roads early Wednesday.  Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Bud Torres says they were notified by a neighbor that 84-year-old Paul Maker was found dead due to hypothermia in his home.  The victim’s wife was found alive, but Torres says she’s in critical condition…

Cut 8 (09) “the cold.”

The home was not equipped with central heat and the cold weather lowered the inside temperatures to just 20 degrees.

The Wakefield Fire Chief died in the line of duty Wednesday morning.  48-year-old Russell Achord of St. Francisville was killed responding to another accident in West Feliciana Parish.  State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says 51-year-old Robert McCoy of Talluah was driving a vehicle and trailer and lost control on the ice…

Cut 17 (10) “as well.”

Every few years the country is hit with a particularly nasty strain of flu, known as H3-N2, but this year’s flu strain is even more resilient than usual, adding to one of the worst flu seasons on record.  The State Health Department’s Dr. Frank Welch says this means more severe symptoms…

Cut 5  (08)  “seven days.”

He says if you’re sick, the best advice is to stay at home…

Travel review website RewardExpert finds people vacationing in Louisiana are the “happiest and most satisfied of tourists.”  The LA Times and the New York Times says New Orleans is the number one destination for visitors.  Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says his office will use this survey to their advantage in promoting the state as a travel destination to tour operators in Asia…

Cut 11 (10) “international travelers.”

The state’s electricity companies are asking residents to conserve power use today as the grids are being overloaded because of unusually high demand due to winter weather. SWEPCO is reporting that nearly 3,000 customers still don’t have power in the Shreveport area, and Entergy has about 5300 in the dark. Recommendations include keeping thermostats at or below 68, and delay bathing and doing clothes or dishes until later today.

Many major interstates are still closed at this time due to icy conditions. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says temperatures were so low for so long, causing the most severe freezing of roadways seen here in quite some time. He says they worked to do all they could to keep roads open…:
Cut 13 (10) “on I-12″
He says they will open roads when it is safe to do so.

Louisiana continues to suffer through its worst flu season on record, with nearly 10 in 100 doctors visits in the last month for flu related symptoms. State Health Department Immunization Director Frank Welch says a nasty strain of flu, known as H3-N2, is more resilient than usual this year:
Cut 5 (08) “seven days”
Welch says complications from the flu kills roughly 700 Louisianans a year.

There were tragic deaths reported in the state this week due to winter weather events. An infant died in Metairie Wednesday morning after a car slid into a canal from an icy road. And cold temperatures claimed the life of an elderly man in New Roads early yesterday. Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Bud Torres says 84-year-old Paul Maker was found dead due to hypothermia in his home. He says this is why they urge folks to check on neighbors…:
Cut 9 (11) “to safety”

At least four deaths are attributed to the extreme winter weather in Louisiana…:
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray”

While the ice is expected to melt off some time today, DOTD will not re-open interstates until they are safe to travel. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says the closures are for our own good…:
Cut 15 (11) “for disaster”

Health officials are urging folks who are still home with their kids out of school today, to use the day off to wash coats, jackets and lunchboxes to help avoid the spread of the widespread flu cases in Louisiana. It’s the worst on record here with nearly 10 in 100 doctor visits being for influenza related symptoms. LDH’s Dr. Frank Welch says know the signs of being sick:
Cut 6 (12) “your doctor”
He says he hasn’t seen it this bad in his 20 years as the state’s flu-bug expert.

A travel review website finds 98% of visitors to Louisiana are happier with their trip here than other states. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser credits the hospitality industry…:
Cut 10 (12) “treat visitors”

Today’s weather calls for sunshine and above-freezing temperatures which will help in the attempt to re-open all roads currently closed. I-10 from I-49 in Lafayette to near Slidell is still closed, so is I-12 from Baton Rouge to near Covington. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett…:
Cut 14 (07) “freeze over”
He says crews are working hard salting, brining, and sanding key bridges and roads.

The Wakefield Fire Chief died in the line of duty Wednesday morning. 48-year-old Russell Achord of St. Francisville was killed while responding to another accident on Highway 61 in West Feliciana Parish. State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says that’s when 51-year-old Robert McCoy of Tallulah came around a curve..:
Cut 16 (11) “Chief Achord”

Louisiana is in the midst of one of the worst flu seasons on record. Matt Doyle spoke with state Department of Health’s Frank Welch…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Travel review website RewardExpert finds people vacationing in Louisiana are the “happiest and most satisfied of tourists.” Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser believes it’s the people which make Louisiana a great travel destination.:
Cut 12 (07) “greatest assets”
The site found that 98-percent of Louisiana’s visitors are happier with their trip here than other states.

Major roads are still closed across the state today as one of the the most severe icing events in recent memory grinds Louisiana travel to a halt…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Entergy is asking customers to voluntarily reduce electricity usage this morning, because it’s possible the grids won’t be able to handle the higher than expected demand which would result in forced outages. They say this is due to the extended cold temperature period. Recommendations include keeping thermostats at or below 68, delay bathing and doing clothes or dishes until later today, and don’t let warm air escape your home.

Louisiana continues to suffer through its worst flu season on record, with nearly 10 in 100 doctors visits in the last month for influenza related symptoms. Frank Welch, medical director for the Louisiana Department of Health Immunization Program, says he hasn’t seen this in his 20 year tenure:
Cut 4 (06) “in Louisiana”
Welch says complications from the flu kills roughly 700 Louisianans a year.

Cold temperatures claimed the life of a man in New Roads early Wednesday. Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Bud Torres says they were notified by a neighbor that 84-year-old Paul Maker was found dead due to hypothermia in his home. He says the couple chose not to heat their home Tuesday night:
Cut 7 (09) “below freezing”
Maker’s wife was sent to the hospital and is expected to survive.