Severe weather is putting a damper on Mardi Gras parades. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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In New Orleans, Zulu will roll at 7:00 am and Rex at 9:00am. Marching krewes and truck parades will not be allowed, and all parades must wrap up by noon. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says the city made the most of a tricky situation.

Cut 12 (06) “…the last day.”

In Lafayette, Mardi Gras Festival in Cajun Field has been cancelled. Parade times have been moved up in the towns of Kaplan, Crowley, New Roads and Franklin.

The state is forecast to have its first major potential spring weather event and North Louisiana will be under an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms which could include strong winds, hail and the possibility of tornados. Meteorologist Mattt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport…

Cut 8 (11) “…through sunset.”

In an effort to get egg prices under control after bird flu caused an increase, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with Secretary of U-S Department of Agriculture Brooke Rollands. Strain says imported of eggs will be allowed into the United States temporarily to help and allow poultry farmers time to increase the egg supply.

Cut 10 (15) “…rebuild the population.”

Mardi Gras parades will not be rolling in Jefferson Parish tomorrow. Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says parades by the Krewe of Argus and the Elks Krewe of Jeffersonians have been called off due to high winds. Sheng says this is not a decision that she wanted to make, but the possibility of 60 mile an hour gusts left her with no other choice.

Cut 5 (14) “…work with us.”

New Orleans. meanwhile, is working to fit in its parades. The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the Krewe of Rex will still hold their parades – Zulu at 7 a.m. and Rex at 9 a.m. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says while Mayor LaToya Cantrell certainly has input and influence, she’s not the final decision-maker in this instance.

Cut 23 (04) “…of that decision.”

Authorities have made at least one arrest in a shooting that wounded five people after the Mardi Gras parade in Franklinton last night. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met with U-S Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollands on how to deal with the effects of bird flu and how to get egg prices under control.

Cut 9 (19)  “…and for poultry.”

Mother Nature is picking the wrong day to inundate Louisiana with severe weather. Meteorologist Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says severe weather is forecast to move across North Louisiana, but could it possibly extend south into Central Louisiana.

Cut 7 (05) “…south of I-10.”

Either way, that’s going to put a damper on Mardi Gras parades for Fat Tuesday as Carnival season draws to a close. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng has cancelled both of tomorrow’s parades due to high winds. Sheng says if those wind speeds are high enough to keep buses and Entergy crews off the roads, they’re certainly high enough to make conditions for a parade unsafe.

Cut 4 (14) “…tents, chairs, tarps.”

While parades in Jefferson Parish have been called off for tomorrow, we’re still awaiting official word from New Orleans on the status of its parades. Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says with tomorrow being the end of Carnival season, rescheduling parades is much more tricky.  

Cut 25 (09) “…do to reschedule.”

Arnold says while some floats are built to withstand high winds, others are a lot older and are less likely to do so. A little further west, parade times have been moved up in the towns of Kaplan, Crowley, New Roads and Franklin with severe weather moving in.

Fat Tuesday could be marred by severe weather. Meteorologist Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says the severe weather threat begins tomorrow morning….

Cut 6 (11) “…there as well.”

As such, the weather is putting a damper on Mardi Gras parades. In Jefferson Parish, President Cynthia Lee Sheng says high winds in the forecast will make parade conditions unsafe; and thus, all parades tomorrow are cancelled. 

Cut 3 (11) “…hour is possible.” 

President Sheng says if those wind speeds are high enough to keep buses and Entergy crews off the roads, they’re certainly high enough to make conditions for a parade unsafe. Parade times have been moved up in the towns of Kaplan, Crowley and Franklin.

While Lafayette will be the first city in Louisiana to get a Buc-ee’s, Ruston won’t be too far behind. Infrastructure work will get underway next week for the new Buc-ee’s there, with travel center construction starting in about five weeks, Mayor Ronny Walker says the store will benefit all facets of the city.

Cut 12 (08) “…taxes also.”

Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s frustrated that veterans are having trouble getting services from the Veterans Administration; and thus, he’s introducing two bills to address it. The first one is called the VetPAC Act, which would create a policy advisory commission to review the Veterans Health Administration.

Cut 14 (12) “…to patient care.”

The other bill is the Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act, which would create an independent organization to assess the quality of care.

The application window is open for families seeking state dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education related expenses. Germain Gilson with the state Department of Education says the state’s voucher program is moving to the L-A Gator Scholarship Program…

Cut 5 (14) “…are a priority”

Go to the department of education’s website for more information.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says construction on the infrastructure to support the new Buc-ee’s I-20 will begin this week. Walker says Buc-ees will be a major economic boost for Lincoln Parish and the region…

Cut 10 (15) “…it’s a huge plus.”

The threat of severe weather tomorrow has resulted in Jefferson Parish canceling Mardi Gras parades on Fat Tuesday. Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says the National Weather Service is reporting wind gusts over 40 miles per hour and up to 60 miles per hour is possible, so it’s not safe to have parades. Parades are still scheduled to roll in Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Houma-Thibodaux, but we’ll keep up updated.

With a measles outbreak threatening the state, Congressman Troy Carter is urging Louisiana residents to take precautions. Sean Richardson reports.

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The application window for the new L-A GATOR scholarship program is now open.

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Five people were injured following a shooting at the Pepe Mardi Gas Parade in Franklinton last night. One of the victims is in critical condition and two others are hospitalized in stable but guarded condition. Authorities say it was a gang related shooting and 18-year-old suspect has been arrested.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says construction on the infrastructure needed for the new Buc-ees’ on I-20 will begin this week. Walker says the eight-million-dollar project to improve the Tarbutton Road Interstate 20 interchange will take 10 to 12 months to complete,

Cut 11 (09) “…handle all the traffic”

Walker says it will take 12 to 15 months to build the Buc-ees travel store.

Officials have expressed concern that a measles outbreak in Texas could make its way to Louisiana. Congressman Troy Carter stresses the urgency of proactive measures to prevent further spread….

Cu 8 (10) “….through vaccinaton”

Carter encourages community members to stay informed, follow public health guidelines, and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.

Authorities in Franklinton have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with a shooting that injured five people following the Pepe Mardi Gras parade on Sunday.  Police said the shooting was gang-related. Officers stationed along the parade route arrested Jamerian Anders, 18, on five counts of attempted first-degree murder.

The application window for the new L-A GATOR program is now open. It opened at nine Saturday morning. L-A GATOR is the state’s new program that provides education scholarship accounts to families. Germain Gilson, the assistant superintendent of the office of school choice, says besides being Louisiana residents, students need to meet one of these requirements.

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Lafayette will be the first Louisiana city with a Buc-ee’s. But as Colleen Crain reports, it will soon have company.

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U.S. Congressman Troy Carter is urging Louisiana residents to take precautions against a potential measles outbreak in the state. He emphasizes the importance of vaccination, and encourages us all to stay informed, follow public health guidelines, and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.

Cut 9 (05)  “…next steps might be.”

With a measles outbreak threatening the state, Congressman Troy Carter is urging Louisiana residents to take precautions. Sean Richardson reports.

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Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s frustrated that veterans are having trouble getting services from the Veterans Administration. So he’s introducing a couple of bills to help including the Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act.

Cut 15 (11) “…to other providers.”

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The application window for the new L-A GATOR program is now open. It opened at nine Saturday morning. L-A GATOR is the state’s new program that provides education scholarship accounts to families.   Germain Gilson, the assistant superintendent of the office of school choice says the money does not necessarily have to be used for private school tuition.

Cut 6 (12) “…or uniforms.”

Ruston will begin infrastructure work next week for the new Buc-ee’s, with travel center construction starting in about five weeks.  Mayor Ronny Walker called the project a major economic boost for Ruston, Grambling, and the region.

Cut 10 (15) “…it’s a huge plus.